Author: Regan Hagestad

Where are Mortgage Rates Headed?

Regan Hagestad August 2, 2016

Today’s mortgage rates remain near three-year lows, but everyone wants to know where they’re headed in the future. According to Realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke, global economic concerns—most recently from the Brexit fallout—have kept mortgage rates low as investors seek refuge in dollar-denominated assets, U.S. bonds and U.S. mortgage–backed securities. In addition, the nation’s slowdown in economic growth as a

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Mortgage Rates Experience a Slight Uptick: Still a Favorable Time to Buy or Refinance

Regan Hagestad July 26, 2016

  The fallout from Brexit has lessened during the past two weeks, permitting interest rates to rebound slightly from their record 10-year Treasury yield and near-record 30-year mortgage rate lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly Mortgage Rates Survey. During the week ending July 21, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased 3 basis points to a still low 3.45 percent. With the Federal Reserve on hold and the U.K.

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Freddie Mac July 2016 Outlook

Regan Hagestad July 19, 2016

Freddie Mac’s monthly Outlook for July shows that international concerns such as slowing growth in China and the Brexit vote in the U.K. have played a major role in decreased mortgage rates. In the most recent Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.41 percent, just slightly above the all-time record low. This is likely to result in a boost in housing activity, particularly refinancing,

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Mortgage Rates Approaching All-Time Record Lows

Regan Hagestad July 12, 2016

Britain’s vote to exit the European Union continued to drive Treasury yields lower in the first week of July. Following that trend was the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which fell 7 basis points to 3.41 percent in mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey. That means mortgage rates have now dropped 15 basis points during the past two weeks,

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8 Rules of Refinancing When Mortgage Rates are Falling

Regan Hagestad July 5, 2016

Mortgage rates are the lowest we’ve seen in three years. While many folks are considering buying or selling, it’s also a great time to refinance. Here are some tips from Inman on how to properly refinance a home loan: Slow down. Yes, you might miss the boat, but better to do it right. When refinancing a primary residence, remember that

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How Brexit Could Push Mortgage Rates to Historic Lows

Regan Hagestad June 29, 2016

Among the largest and most immediate effects from the vote by Britain this past week to sever its economic and political ties with the European Union are how it will alter mortgage interest rates and U.S. real estate prices. According to Redfin, here’s what you need to know about buying, selling and borrowing with the recent advent of the Brexit

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Fannie Mae’s Second Quarter 2016 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey

Regan Hagestad June 21, 2016

Lender attitudes toward the housing market are positive heading into third quarter 2016, having recovered from a significant decline in recent quarters, according to Fannie Mae’s second quarter 2016 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey. Conducted in May, the survey shows that lenders reporting demand growth for GSE (government-sponsored enterprise) eligible purchase mortgages in the past three months rebounded to 70 percent

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Mortgage Rates Officially Hit Three-Year Lows

Regan Hagestad June 15, 2016

Mortgage rates crept just barely lower on June 10, but it was enough to leave the average lender’s rate sheet in its best shape since May 2013. Unlike the early February time frame, rates have moved lower in a steadier way, according to Mortgage News Daily. Although that doesn’t mean they can’t bounce higher, it does mean there’s less risk of a

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Four Loans That Affect Your Mortgage Worthiness

Regan Hagestad June 6, 2016

When shopping for a mortgage, your credit score is paramount—ultimately making or breaking your mortgage approval and determining whether or not you snag your dream home. According to trulia.com, here are four key consumer loans that can affect your mortgage worthiness, along with ways to improve your credit if you already have (or are considering) these loans—all with the goal of

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U.S. New-Home Sales Rise at Fastest Pace in Eight Years

Regan Hagestad May 31, 2016

U.S. new home sales posted their strongest month in more than eight years in April, while prices jumped to a record level. That suggests healthy demand alongside limited supplies across the housing market, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. Here are some highlights: • Purchases of new, single-family homes jumped 16.6 percent from a month earlier to a

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