This week's easing off in mortgage rates is rooted in the market's wait-and-see posture with regard to the Federal Reserve Board's upcoming actions on interest rates,
More Quotes from Frank Nothaft:
The strength in employment growth and an unexpected jump in consumer credit in January helped push mortgage rates a little higher this week. While long-term interest rates are at the highest level since May of 1998, they are still very affordable, particularly when compared to the 1970s and 1980s.Frank Nothaft
What will happen in Las Vegas It's hard to say. The entertainment industry has been very strong and you've got large immigration and employment growth, well above the national average. So you have an increase in house prices, but it's related to the influx of new residents and job growth. But certainly that's a market that you should use some caution in the coming years.
Frank Nothaft
A shift in market perception about what action the Federal Reserve Board will take at its May meeting led to a downturn in interest rates this week. Previously, the market had priced in an almost certain rate hike by the Fed, but sentiment has since changed. Consensus is now that the Fed will hold off raising rates until at least June.
Frank Nothaft
Currently, for new mortgages, all ARM products make up about one-third of the market.
Frank Nothaft
The market interpreted recently released retail sales figures as a sign that the economy may now be recovering faster than originally thought, bringing fear of inflation back into the picture, ... But the good news is that April's Consumer Price Index (CPI), which came out Wednesday, indicates inflation remains under control. This should help keep mortgage rates stable for the foreseeable future.
Frank Nothaft
The Producer Price Index for April, released today, showed a considerably larger decline than had been expected, reaffirming market concerns about the state of the economy. However, the Consumer Price Index for April that will come out tomorrow will give us a much more comprehensive picture of what is actually happening.
Frank Nothaft
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