Austin Mortgage Update – Week Ending 1/8/10

What Did Interest Rates Do This Week?
** based on Freddie Mac weekly average survey **

30-yr Fixed – Slightly Lower

This Week: 5.09%
Last Week: 5.14%
1yr Ago: 5.01%

15-yr Fixed – Slightly Lower
This Week: 4.50%
Last Week: 4.54%
1yr Ago: 4.62%

Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed)
This Week: 5.875%
Last Week: 5.895%

Highlight of This Week’s Major Economic Reports

The first economic news of the year gave us the final significant results of 2009 – the December employment report. We all had hoped the end of the year would see no job losses, which would boost our spirits about an end to the “employment slump,” but it appears the job market remains in a still-fragile – but improving – state. The latest report from the Commerce Department showed that 85,000 more jobs were lost than were created last month. Although this figure was higher than the 8,000 loss economists were predicting, it still represents the lowest job loss rate we’ve seen in many, many months. Furthermore, it reinforces the belief/expectation that we’ll be seeing positive job growth before too long.

What to Look for Next Week

Inflation will take center stage, as well as the latest Fed survey of regional economic conditions. No major surprises expected, so mortgage rates should hold steady.

Short-Term Rate Outlook

Relatively Unchanged

Rate Updates courtesy of:
Marie Funston – Senior Mortgage Advisor with PHH Mortgage
(512) 750-7270

With rates at historic lows & the extended tax credit……now is a great time to buy!  For more information regarding the Austin Housing Market, Current Mortgage Rates, or how I can help you…..please contact me directly.

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2. Email(valid email required)
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4. Message

 

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Austin Mortgage Update – Week Ending 1/1/10

What Did Interest Rates Do This Week?
** based on Freddie Mac weekly average survey **

30-yr Fixed – Higher
This Week:  5.14%
Last Week:  5.05%
1yr Ago:  5.10%

15-yr Fixed – Higher
This Week:  4.54%
Last Week:  4.45%
1yr Ago:  4.83%

Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed)
This Week:  5.895%
Last Week:  5.875%

Highlight of This Week’s Major Economic Reports

2009 came to an end with mortgage rates on the rise, but to keep things in perspective – rates are comparable to where they were in late October, and much lower than this past summer’s peak.

One of the main factors that contributed to the uptick in rates was the Fed winding down its purchase of Treasuries, which allowed the natural laws of supply-and-demand to take a hold on the market.  Prices of bonds went up as a result, which causes yields (rates) to go up.

Nevertheless, as Freddie Mac, puts it:  “Although long-term mortgage rates rose for the fourth week in a row, they still remain affordable by historical standards.  Based on today’s median loan amount of $138,000, monthly principal and interest payments for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are close to one-third less than a decade ago when rates peaked at 8.6 percent in May 2000.  This translates into almost 50% less in interest payments over the full 30-year term.”

What to Look for This Week

Nothing like the state of the job market to grab everyone’s attention, and we get to find out how the last month of last decade fared with the release of the December employment report.  Economists expect the smallest drop in payrolls since the recession began two years ago, which – if true – we hope will signify that we’re nearing the end of this “employment slump.”

Short-Term Rate Outlook

Potentially Slightly Higher

Rate Updates courtesy of:

Marie Funston
Senior Mortgage Advisor with Coldwell Banker Mortgage
(512) 750-7270

With rates at historic lows & the extended tax credit……now is a great time to buy!  For more information regarding the Austin Housing Market, Current Mortgage Rates, or how I can help you…..please contact me directly.

Contact Form:

1. Your Name(required)
2. Email(valid email required)
3. Phone #:(required)
4. Message

 

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