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A tug of war for Austin mortgage interest rates seems in the cards

Austin mortgage rates and pricing can go one way or the other in short order but most likely hold steady at current levels. Best to stay on defense as stocks certainly look better, Europe looks better, and the Federal Reserve Chairman hints of Fed Funds rate hikes sooner than later. Personally, we like the chart (better chance of lower Austin mortgage rates/better pricing) but the fundamentals (economic data) points to a steady recovery. A tug of war for Austin mortgage interest rates seems in the cards.

May 10, 2010|Austin Mortgage Market|

Interest Rate Forecasting Has Been Tough to Handicap – If You Like IT, Lock It

Keep in mind that interest rate forecasting has been tough to handicap, giving us hope for a day only to turn into a one hit wonder. Same rules apply with such a volatile environment; if you like it, lock it. We’ll try to wrap this up later today.

January 15, 2010|Austin Mortgage Market|

Austin Mortgage Market – For the week of December 21, 2009

We saw strong evidence last week that homebuilders are well on their way to recovery. Housing starts for November were UP 8.9%, to an annual rate of 574,000 units. Single-family starts were 35.0% higher than their January and February lows. The very volatile multi-units starts were UP 67.3% from the previous month's cyclical low. And get this -- starts were UP in every major region across the country!

December 21, 2009|Inside Lending Newsletter|

Expecting the market to move much in any direction is possible but probably not in the cards

With trading volume starting to fall off a cliff, expecting the market to move much in any direction is possible but probably not in the cards. Next week will be worse.

December 14, 2009|Austin Mortgage Market|

With stocks near unchanged and a basket of economic uncertainty, best to not throw caution to the wind

With stocks near unchanged and a basket of economic uncertainty, best to not throw caution to the wind. Bernanke's mandate for low interest rates well into the future, coupled with a staggering deficit, falling dollar, 3 trillion in health care costs on the docket, and taxes for both individuals and small business destine to rise in 2010 will create difficult challenges and unintended consequences. With the Fed policy a given, we expect to see a floor under the bond market, supporting both treasury and mortgage back security pricing. Buying sponsorship (upcoming auctions) and year end book closings will be the challenge (liquidity issues).

November 17, 2009|Austin Mortgage Market|

Dow Crosses Above 10,000

Stronger than expected economic data, solid earnings reports, and upward revisions to the Fed's growth forecast propelled the Dow stock index above the 10,000 level for the first time since October 2008. However, these same factors were unfavorable for Austin mortgage rates, and they ended the week modestly higher.

October 16, 2009|MBS Quoteline Newsletter|