Lack of uncertainty around the Iraq conflict caused bond market yields to reverse their downward spiral of recent weeks and mortgage rates followed in tandem. But there are other uncertainties about the length of the conflict and its impact on the economy that will influence mortgage rates in the weeks to come, so this rise in rates may be only temporary.
More Quotes from Frank Nothaft:
Treasury rates continued to drop this week to 45-year lows in anticipation that the Fed may cut rates given the continuous weakness in the economy and the absence of any inflationary pressures.Frank Nothaft
One reason why homeowners may be willing to increase the mortgage rate on their first-lien mortgage is because interest rates on most home-equity lines of credit have been pushed up again as the Fed increased short-term interest rates in January and March, which in turn pushed up the prime rate.
Frank Nothaft
With productivity up and inflationary pressures muted, the Federal Reserve Board elected this week not to change a key short-term interest rate. Moreover, most other economic data releases, such as unemployment and manufacturing, painted a slightly negative picture for future economic growth. These factors combined to keep mortgage rates stable.
Frank Nothaft
Earlier in the week, interest rates were a bit higher, as financial markets were a little anxious about what language the Federal Reserve (Fed) would use in its statement this month.
Frank Nothaft
It was no great surprise that housing starts rose for the second time in three months since mortgage rates in November reached levels not seen since the mid-1960s. Since mortgage rates are not expected to increase significantly, we remain confident that the housing industry will continue to be alive and active well into 2003.
Frank Nothaft
With no big economic news to influence the direction of mortgage rates this week, the numbers drifted very slightly upward. We see this trend continuing throughout 2006, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage ending the year at about 6.3 as the housing market eases back from last year's record setting levels toward a somewhat more normal rate of activity.
Frank Nothaft
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