Provided courtesy of: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/consumer_rates/
Mortgage rates were only modestly higher today. Most lenders were still quoting the same rates compared to Friday with the only difference being slightly higher upfront costs. This means the rate at the top of the average mortgage quote is still within striking distance of the lowest levels since September 2017.
Rather than focus on the journey that has already occurred for rates, it's quickly becoming important to focus on the path ahead. Reason being: rates have generally been flat for more than 2 weeks now. This is incredibly uncommon given the pace of improvements in the several weeks before that. With the Federal Reserve releasing a policy announcement and updated forecasts on Wednesday (both hotly anticipated by financial markets), it seems clear that the sideways momentum in rates is due to anticipation of a breakout.
...(read more)While we can't say that this week's best mortgage rate offerings were quite as good as last week's best, they were pretty darn close. In fact, quite a few lenders have simply been quoting the same rates for the entire 2-week period. That happens from time to time, but it never happens after rates make a strong run to the lowest levels in nearly 2 years. Seriously, I can't find any past examples of a similar turn of events. Therefore, it's safe to declare this to be yet another awesome week for rates, even though it's not an awesome week for the average mortgage originator to have much time to sleep, eat, or chill with the fam!
...(read more)Mortgage rates moved lower for the 2nd straight day, which brings them back in line with Monday's levels. While these aren't quite the lowest rates of the past 2 weeks, they're much closer than they were on Tuesday morning. That means the average lender is nearly able to offer the lowest rates since September 2017!
In the slightly bigger picture, underlying bond markets seem to be consolidating after the aggressive move to lower rates 2 weeks ago. In other words, if we can look past some of the recent volatility, the general trend has been sideways for nearly 2 weeks now. This is a good thing because, again, the "sideways" is happening at long-term lows for rates. All things being equal, that's a sign that the market is at least willing to see rates move even lower.
...(read more)Mortgage rates moved higher over the past 2 days, but managed to find their footing today. I'll be the last person to claim interest rates and stock prices must follow one another, but at times, their relationship is the most convenient way to understand the market. Stocks had been rising last week while rates were holding at the lowest levels since September 2017. More than anything, this reflected optimism on both sides of the market surrounding potential Fed rate cuts in 2019.
Last Friday provided some important insight.
...(read more)Mortgage rates moved higher again today, even though underlying bond markets were relatively flat. This is due to the timing of market movement over the past 2 days in conjunction with typical mortgage lender pricing conventions. Specifically, bonds weakened steadily throughout the day yesterday. Bond weakness implies higher rates, but not every lender will go to the trouble to adjust their rate sheet offerings unless the move is big enough. Even then, bonds can continue to weaken even after some lenders make mid-day adjustments.
...(read more)Mortgage rates had a fairly epic week last week, spending each day effectively pinned to the lowest levels since September 2017. That followed a swift move lower in the previous week and solid improvements every week since late April. Typically, we see a fairly quick bounce after dropping so rapidly to long-term lows. Last week was exceptional in that the lows managed to stick around for 5 straight days.
Things may be changing today. Over the weekend, the bond market (which dictates mortgage rates and interest rates in general) digested news that Mexico tariffs are off the table for now. The initial tariff announcement was a key source of inspiration behind last week's stellar performance so it's no surprise to see rates push back in the other direction as the news is unwound.
...(read more)Mortgage rates moved decisively lower today following a much weaker-than-expected reading on new job creation in a key report from the Department of Labor. The payroll count in the big jobs report fell to 75k in May compared to a median forecast of 185k. The previous two months were also revised moderately lower.
Taken together the update on jobs calls into question the strongest and most resilient component of the current economic expansion in the US. This is important for two reasons. First, a strong economy is better able to support higher rates (more people working = more people able to make higher payments). Second, one of the Fed's mandates is "full employment." If this drop in the job count precedes an increase in unemployment, it adds to the already growing case for a Fed rate cut this summer.
...(read more)
The challenge of buying a home for the first time can seem so daunting that it's tempting to either just go with the first house that falls in your price range or continue to rent. To help you demystify the process and get the most out of the purchase, we'll examine what you'll need to consider before you buy, what you can expect from the buying process itself, and some handy tips to make life easier after you purchase your first home.
The first thing you'll need to determine is what your long-term goals are and then how home ownership fits in with those plans. It could be that you're simply looking to transform all those "wasted" rent payments into mortgage payments that actually give you something tangible. Others see home ownership as a sign of their independence and enjoy the idea of being their own landlord. Narrowing down your big-picture homeownership goals will point you in the right direction. Here are five questions to ask yourself:
The Buying Process
Now that you've decided to take the plunge, let's explore what you can expect
from the home buying process itself. This is a chaotic time with offers and
counter-offers flying furiously, but if you are prepared for the hassle (and
the paperwork), you can get through the process with your sanity more-or-less
intact. Here is the basic progression you can expect:
1) Find a home.
Make sure to take advantage of all the available options for finding homes on
the market, including using your real estate agent, searching for listings
online and driving around the neighborhoods that interest you in search of
for-sale signs. Also put some feelers out there with your friends, family and
business contacts. You never know where a good reference or lead on a home might
come from.
2) Consider your financing options and secure financing.
First-time homebuyers have a wide variety of options to help them get into a
home, including federally-backed loans and loans for homebuyers who don't have
the standard 20% minimum down payment. Your state may also have its own
programs for first-time homebuyers. Your mortgage interest rate will also have
a major impact on the total price you pay for your home, so shop around.
3) Make an offer.
Your real estate agent will help you decide how much money you want to offer
for the house along with any conditions you want to ask for, like having the
buyer pay for your closing costs. Your agent will then present the offer to the
seller's agent; the seller will either accept your offer or issue a counter-offer.
You can then accept, or continue to go back and forth until you either reach a
deal or decide to call it quits. If you reach an agreement, you'll make a
good-faith deposit and the process then transitions into escrow. Escrow is
a short period of time (often about 30 days) where the seller takes the house
off the market with the contractual expectation that you will buy the house -
provided you don't find any serious problems with it when you inspect it.
4) Obtain a home inspection.
Even if the home you plan to purchase appears to be flawless, there's no
substitute for having a trained professional inspect the property for the
quality, safety and overall condition of your potential new home. If the home
inspection reveals serious defects that the seller did not disclose, you'll
generally be able to rescind your offer and get your deposit back. Negotiating
to have the seller make the repairs or discount the selling price are other
options if you find yourself in this situation.
5) Close or move on.
If you're able to work out a deal with the seller, or better yet, if the
inspection didn't reveal any significant problems, you should be ready
to close. Closing basically involves signing a ton of paperwork in a very
short time period, while praying that nothing falls through at the last minute.
Take these 5 steps to help make the process go more smoothly.
Now that you know how much you can afford, check out our current mortgage rate comparison-shopping tool today.
Check your credit
Evaluate assets and liabilities
So you don't owe too much money and your payments are up to date. But how do you spend your money? Do you have piles of money left over every month, or are you on a shoestring budget?
A first-time homebuyer should have a good idea of what is owed and what is coming in.
You've decided to go for it. Buying a home can be thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time, especially for a first-time homebuyer. It's difficult to know exactly what to expect. The learning curve can be steep, but most of the issues can be resolved by doing a little financial homework at the outset.
Take these 5 steps to help make the process go more smoothly.
The homebuyer's credit score is among the most important factors when it comes to qualifying for a loan these days.
To get a sense of where your credit stands, go to Kredit Karma to collect your credit report and score today, free and with no obligation.
Scour the reports for mistakes, unpaid accounts or collection accounts.
Just because you pay everything on time every month doesn't mean your credit is stellar, however. The amount of credit you're using relative to your available credit limit, or your credit utilization ratio, can sink a credit score.
The lower the utilization rate, the higher your score will be. Ideally, first-time homebuyers would have a lot of credit available, with less than a third of it used.
Repairing damaged credit takes time -- and money, if you owe more than lenders would prefer to see relative to your income. Begin the process at least 6 months before shopping for a home.
Evaluate assets and liabilities
So you don't owe too much money and your payments are up to date. But how do you spend your money? Do you have piles of money left over every month, or are you on a shoestring budget?
A first-time homebuyer should have a good idea of what is owed and what is coming in.
"If I were a first-time homebuyer and I wanted to do everything right, I would probably try to track my spending for a couple of months to see where my money was going," he says.
Additionally, buyers should have an idea of how lenders will view their income, and that requires becoming familiar with the basics of mortgage lending.
For instance, some professionals, such as the self-employed or straight-commission salesperson, may have a more difficult time getting a loan than others
Organize documents
When applying for mortgages, homebuyers must document income and taxes.
Typically, mortgage lenders will request 2 recent pay stubs, the previous 2 years' W-2s, tax returns and the past 2 months of bank statements -- every page, even the blank ones.
Buying a home can take a long time, but knowing what you need and where to find it can save time when you're ready.
Qualify yourself
Ideally, as a first-time homebuyer, you already know how much you can afford to spend before the mortgage lender tells you how much you qualify for. "How much house can I afford?" calculator will help.
By calculating debt-to-income ratio and factoring in a down payment, you will have a good idea of what you can afford, both upfront and monthly.
Though there's not a fixed debt-to-income ratio that lenders require, the old standard dictates that no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income be devoted to housing costs. This percentage is called the front-end ratio.
The back-end ratio shows what portion of income covers all monthly debt obligations. Lenders prefer the back-end ratio to be 36 percent or less, but some borrowers get approved with back-end ratios of 45 percent or higher.
Figure out your down payment
It takes effort to scrape together the down payment.
There are programs that can assist buyers with qualifying incomes and situations.
Finally, speak with mortgage lenders when you're starting the process. Check with friends, co-workers and neighbors to find out which lenders they enjoyed working with and ask them questions about the process and what other steps first-time homebuyers should take.
Congratulations New Homeowner ... Now What?
You've signed the papers, paid the movers and the new place is starting to feel like home. Game over right? Not quite. Let's now examine some final tips to make life as a new homeowner more fun and secure.
Conclusion
This brief overview should help put you on the path towards filling in any gaps in your home-buying knowledge. Remember that the more you educate yourself about the process beforehand, the less stressful it will be, and the more likely you will be to get the house you want for a price you can afford - and with a smile on your face.