Mortgage Rate Watch

• Best-Execution Mortgage Rates Rise For First Time in a Month February 21, 2012
  For the first time since late January, Best-Execution Mortgages Rates moved back to 4.0%.  Over the past month, the rate averaged 3.875% despite plenty of fluctuations in terms of closing costs.  Friday's weakness brought the average of the lenders we survey as close to the 4.0% mark and today's weakness in the bond markets resulted in more lenders […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Continue Higher Ahead of High-Risk Weekend February 17, 2012
  Mortgages Rates are higher for the 2nd day in a row.  Unlike the movement we normally see, which limits itself to affecting closing costs as opposed to the quoted rates themselves, today's deterioration leaves 4.0% looking like the better deal for enough lenders that we'd make a note of it's increasing prevalence, although the average across a […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Turn Higher Following Data, Greece Headlines February 16, 2012
  Mortgages Rates reversed a recent trend of gradual improvement, moving higher today after a better-than-expected read on employment from this morning's Jobless Claims report as well as news that the ECB will swap out their Greek government bonds this weekend.  30yr Fixed Conventional Best-Execution Rates continue to operate in 3.875% territory on averag […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Continue to See Minor Improvements February 15, 2012
  Mortgages Rates improved again today as domestic economic data failed to inspire markets to move in either direction and optimism over today's conference call between Greece and its creditors deteriorated.  In general, economic optimism tends to coincide with interest rates moving higher.  Mortgage rates began the week fighting back against this general […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Improve on Weak Data, Greece Jitters February 14, 2012
  Mortgages Rates are somewhat improved today after holding relatively steady to begin the week.  In the underlying markets MBS (the "mortgage-backed-securities" that most directly influence mortgage rates) rose to their best levels since last Thursday after today's Retail Sales figures showed slower than expected consumer spending.  When MBS pr […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Hold Steady To Begin Busy Week February 13, 2012
  Mortgages Rates held steady over the weekend.  In fact, rates were so steady that our measured averages on Friday were the same as today's reading, which is a fairly uncommon occurrence.  Friday had been a fairly stable day, and markets traded in better territory than Thursday.  Rates had come under pressure recently, pushing the 30yr Fixed Best-Executi […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Battle Back From The Edge February 10, 2012
  With yesterday's increases, Mortgages Rates moved to the edge of their recently long and stable stay at a 3.875% Best-Execution level.  While some lenders are still best-priced at 4.0%, the average Best-Execution rate moved back down into 3.875% territory today.  Keep in mind that "best-execution" refers to the most ideal possible rate/fee sce […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates at a Tipping Point After Rising Today February 9, 2012
  Mortgages Rates moved higher today at the quickest pace of the week.  For the second time this year, the 3.875% Best-Execution rate on 30yr Fixed Conventional loans is in question.  If rates move much higher from here, the average Best-Execution rate across multiple lenders will have risen back to 4.0% and for quite a few lenders, is already there.  (We expl […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Flat to Slightly Improved After Auction, Greece News February 8, 2012
  For several sessions in a row, Mortgages Rates have moved in the opposite direction from the previous session, although even the bigger examples of these movements haven't been enough to nudge 3.875% out of the "best-execution" position.  The same back-and-forth movement continued today as rates improved ever so slightly after rising slightly […]

  Matthew Graham

• Mortgage Rates Slightly Higher as Greece, Auctions Weigh on Markets February 7, 2012
  Although the recently confirmed 3.875% Best-Execution level remains intact for 30yr fixed, conventional loans, Mortgages Rates moved slightly higher today in terms of the costs required to obtain those rates.  Weakness in Treasuries today was more pronounced than MBS, the "mortgage-backed-securities most directly responsible for determining mortgage rat […]

  Matthew Graham