As many borrowers continue to emerge from forbearance due to pandemic-related aid, a government watchdog is encouraging lenders to help them avoid a potential foreclosure wave. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that as of March 1, more than 768,000 mortgage borrowers remain in active forbearance. Many of these consumers are at risk of foreclosure …
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May 14
What Fed’s Rate Hike Means for Mortgage Borrowers
Consumers can expect higher borrowing costs across the board after the Federal Reserve announced it would raise its short-term benchmark rate for the first time in three years, financial analysts say. The Fed increased its target federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday after it had been near zero. The central …
May 13
Mortgage Rates Continue to Climb
As mortgage rates rise, levels below 4% for the most popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are likely to remain in the rearview mirror. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.16% this week, Freddie Mac reports. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage exceeded 4% for the first time since May of 2019,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The …
May 10
More Homeowners Cashing In on Their Equity
Despite increasing equity, fewer homeowners are taking out home equity lines of credit. A March 18 report from ATTOM Data Solutions shows the number of HELOCs issued in the fourth quarter of 2021 was down 5.5% from the previous quarter, and 4.2% below the level issued in the fourth quarter of 2020. HELOC mortgage originations fell …
May 09
Rates Doing Little to Help First-Timers
Higher home prices are overshadowing potential savings from historically low mortgage rates, according to a new analysis by CoreLogic, a real estate research firm. “[The] 2020–2021 pandemic housing market recorded the fastest annual home price appreciation in the 45-year history of the index,” Yanling Mayer, principal economist for CoreLogic, writes in a March 18 analysis on …
May 07
FHA, VA Loan Demand Drops on Higher Rates
First-time buyers and veterans may be facing increasing obstacles to affording homeownership. In response, mortgage applications for home purchases involving Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Affairs loans are falling. The loans tend to be popular with first-time buyers, veterans, and those with lower incomes less able to pay a large down payment for a home purchase. …
May 07
Mortgage Rates Surge
Elevated inflation and the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening policy drove the latest leap in mortgage rates this week. Since the beginning of this year, mortgage rates have jumped by 1.2%. The typical home buyer would need to spend $250 more every month to be able to purchase a home, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director …
May 06
Some Owners Turn to Cash-Out Refinances
Some homeowners are turning to the equity in their current home to fund their next real estate transaction. But the move isn’t without risks. Most homeowners who bought a home before 2020 have seen rapid appreciation and rising equity in their homes. A cash-out refinance is allowing them to use that equity to help fund their …
May 03
Mortgage Rates Up, Purchase Loans Resilient for Now
Mortgage rates may be moving higher but eager buyers continue to drive loan applications to purchase a home higher as well. Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 1% last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Home shoppers may be rushing to lock in rates ahead of any further increases. But higher mortgage rates …
May 02
Borrowing Costs Jump as Rates Continue to Increase
For the fourth consecutive week, mortgage rates surged, up more than 90 basis points in one month. Rates have jumped from 3.76% to 4.67% in just March alone, significantly increasing the borrowing costs for buyers, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting at the National Association of REALTORS®, wrote for the association’s blog. The …
May 01
ARMs May Appeal to Buyers Seeking Savings
Adjustable-rate mortgages can carry some risks, but as rates rise, more home buyers may consider them. ARMs typically have a lower initial interest rate than 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, but the rate will change after a defined duration. Borrowers then must pay the rate set when their lock period expires, which can be risky if rates …
Apr 30
Mortgage Rates on the Horizon
Mortgage rates have been rising quickly over the past month. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.18%. Last week, it averaged 4.67%, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates surged more than 90 basis points in March alone. And 5% mortgage rates may be here sooner than many housing analysts had originally predicted. Several leading …
