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economic recovery

Austin Mortgage Rates Remain Low

The economic environment for Austin mortgage rates was little changed this week. Weaker than expected economic data and continued low inflation supported low Austin mortgage rates, and investor demand for bonds remained high. As a result, Austin mortgage rates again ended the week a little lower.

Austin Mortgage Market Update – For the week of July 5, 2010

Last Thursday pending home sales, a measure of contracts signed for existing homes, were reported off 30% in May compared to the prior month. This of course was simply the result of the end of the homebuyer tax credit, which required a signed contract by April 30. Common sense tells us many of those April contracts would have happened in May or even later if it weren't for the pressure to qualify for the tax credit.

Austin mortgage rates declined during the week, reaching the lowest levels of the year

This week, uncertainty about the pace of the economic recovery caused investors to shift to relatively safer assets, including government insured mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Also positive for mortgage markets, the economic data released this week showed that inflation remains extremely low. As a result, mortgage rates declined during the week, reaching the lowest levels of the year.

The trend is changing and even though we don’t like it, a “new normal” for Austin mortgage rates is in the works

The morning after continues towards the path of least resistance, that being higher yields and worsening Austin mortgage pricing. Certainly the economic fundamentals of a recovering economy, continiously evolving fiscal policy which we feel is more borrowing and less monetary stimulus, and a reluctance of our foreign partners to take on our debt/risk are the heavy weights in this move to higher yields.

The market was doing just fine until the headlines broke the minutes of last month’s FOMC meeting (Fed Open Market Committee)

The market was doing just fine until the headlines broke the minutes of last month’s FOMC meeting (Fed Open Market Committee). The “Street” didn’t take kindly to comments regarding treasury asset sales, consideration of a .25 bps hike in the Discount Rate, and a general hawkish tone once they can determine that a recovery is “self sustaining”.

Although the home price numbers are good, uncertainty with the 8K stimulus plan and continued high unemployment will need to be monitored

Hey what do you know, a little green on the screen! Case Shiller Home Price Index painted the screen with an improvement of 1.2% while the year on year figure was down 11.3%. The number were a bit better than consensus, showing signs of stability creeping back into the housing market. 17 of the 20 market surveyed showed positive price improvement with Charlotte, Las Vegas, and Cleveland the only decliners. Although the numbers are good, uncertainty with the 8K stimulus plan and continued high unemployment will need to be monitored.