Archive for the ‘Home Mortgage Rates’ Category

Financing Applications Increase As Mortgage Rates Hit 3-Month Low

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Refinancing one’s mortgage is perhaps the preferred solution of many troubled homeowners. It is certainly effective in lowering their monthly mortgage obligations and preventing foreclosure. If you are among these homeowners, you might want to take advantage of the currently low mortgage rates for a 30-year loan, as reported by Freddie Mac.

For the period ending September 3, rates were recorded at 5.08 percent, the lowest it has been in the last three months when it hit 4.91 percent last May 28. During that period, applications to refinance soared to 6, 814. If this is to be used as a standard, applications are expected to soar in the next couple of days according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Economists have always believed that the demand for refinancing will grow if mortgage rate is at 5 percent or lower. This is because homeowners who were not lucky enough to get approved last May will most probably try their luck once more considering that lenders will be in a better position to accommodate their requests unlike the first time when most were just overwhelmed.

In addition, a poll conducted by Reuters showed that this development might brighten the outlook for the housing industry and might even push prices of homes up in the coming year.

Last year, mortgage rate for a 30-year loan was at 6.35 percent. Considering such huge difference and renewed optimism in the housing industry, it is probably the best time to go out and refinance. You will be able to save thousands and enjoy an improved quality of life.

When applying for refinancing, you should make sure that your financial documents are in order so that your lender will have an easier time assessing your qualifications. In addition, you might also want to get a copy of your credit report in case there are wrong entries that could affect your credit score. If you must know, the higher credit score you have, the greater the chances of being approved.

Home Mortgage Rates Rise

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Home mortgage rates for loans that are fixed for 30 years experienced an increase this week. This was even as the real estate market experiences its lowest borrowing costs that produced the largest jump in the purchases of new houses.

The average 30-year fixed rate home loan rose to 5.14 percent. This was from 5.12 percent, according to financing giant Freddie Mac. According to Celia Chen of Economy.com, the rates are already stable at this time. The situation is improving and turning out to be more favorable for a lot of homeowners.

Increasing mortgage rates may also threaten an increase in the sales of houses because of decreasing home prices, tax credit from first-time buyers, as well as a Federal Reserve program specifically designed to decrease costs related to applying for loans. New home sales increased dramatically, surpassing expectations of experts and other industry players.

Even existing homes experienced a boost in sales and had its highest record in two years.

The Federal Reserve started to execute actions aimed at lowering mortgage rates through buying bonds that are backed by home mortgages. The program increased in size and expanded to $1.25 trillion last March. These purchases from Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac caused yields to decrease on loan-backed securities. These also allowed lending companies to decrease interest rates on new home loans while selling the securities at a profit. This plan contributed in lowering mortgage rates to 4.78 percent last April, setting new records in the real estate industry.

Interest rates and treasury yields started increasing in May. This was happening as investors expressed their concern that high government debts would create inflation. 30-year home loan rates increased to 5.59 percent sometime in June. New-house sales also increased by 9.6 percent last July. This was the highest increase it experienced since February 2005. Also, existing house sales increased by 7.2 percent. This has caused house sales to increase and get its best records since 1999.

The index of applications from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows that applications for home financing increased by 7.5 percent last August 21. Among those applications, refinancing experienced 13 percent of increase, while new financing for purchases increased by one percent.

Low Home Mortgage Rates Can Actually Be Expensive

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

A lot of home mortgage loan rates are advertised as really low. In fact, they are so low that they are too good to be true. Borrowers who fall into the trap are caught off guard when it is time to pay. Because of hidden charges, they end up paying a lot more than what they thought they signed up for.

Hidden charges can be dependent on several factors, such as the type of property and loan amount. Credit can also contribute to the total home mortgage amount that you have to pay regularly. It is important o look at all this information and weigh all of them against your financial situation.

However, these home mortgage loans all boils down to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the role of the government in these things. When a borrower is applying for home mortgage loan, the lending company would first start with the base rate. This is actually what advertisers talk about when they say “low rate”.

However, there are a lot more fees that you have to pay for. After the lender is able to input all the information about your property, such as the type, your credit score, the percent of equity and other such information, the system would automatically compute and give you a new rate that is of course outrageously higher than what you though it would be. Because of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s roles in the home mortgage programs, there have been add-ons that are now hurting borrowers.

As a borrower, you should always be prepared for these kinds of home mortgage rates. Make sure that you are well-informed about the current rates, as well as the additional fees that lending companies ask for. Do not easily believe in radio or newspaper advertisements.

You can ask around, read up, and consult with experts for you to be able to decide properly and get the best value for your money. At this day and age where everyone is looking for ways to make more money, make sure that you do not fall captive of these activities. Be a wise borrower and handle your finances well.

Mortgage Refinancing to a Fixed Rate Mortgage

Friday, May 15th, 2009

A lot of homeowners who are considering mortgage refinancing would hear experts say that they should opt for a fixed rate home mortgage. The reason for this is that these types of mortgages are more stable, and can therefore provide homeowners with more security.
To get the best fixed rate mortgage, it is important that [...]

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Federal Efforts Bring Home Mortgage Rates to Its Lowest

Monday, January 26th, 2009

Last week, the 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate is at 5.14 percent but this week it is at its lowest in 37 years at 5.10 percent as announced by Freddie Mac vice president Frank Nothaft. It is one of the lowest since 1971 when Primary Mortgage Market Survey began.
Home mortgage rates are now declining due [...]

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