18
May
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 18, 2015

Last week's economic reports included data from the Federal Reserve on student loan debt, job openings and retail sales. Weekly jobless claims and Freddie Mac's survey of average mortgage rates were released as usual on Thursday. A report on consumer sentiment wrapped up the week's scheduled economic new. Federal Reserve: Student Loan Borrowers Struggle with Payments  In two reports issued by the New York and St. Louis branches of the Federal Reserve, researchers found that high numbers of student loan borrowers are behind in making payments. According to the New York Fed, 11.10 percent of student loan borrowers were 90…
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16
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

Home Builder Confidence Rises in April

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that April's Housing Market Index rose from a reading of 52 in March to 56 for April. This is in line with warmer weather and the peak home buying season in spring and summer. Readings over 50 indicate that more builders view market conditions as positive as those who do not. NAHB members cited lower mortgage rates and better labor market conditions as reasons they expect more home buyers to enter the market. All Components of Builder Confidence Increase The NAHB Home Builder Index is calculated from three components. The reading for…
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09
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

FOMC Minutes: Housing Market Stable But Slow

The minutes of the March meeting of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) were released Tuesday and included a staff review of current economic conditions. The minutes noted that while labor markets continued to grow, inflation to the Fed’s target rate of 2.00 percent was impeded by dropping fuel prices. The Committee noted that expectations for longer-term inflation remained stable. Non-farm payrolls, which include both private and public sector jobs, grew in January and February and the national unemployment rate reached a new low of 5.50 percent in February. Readings for workers employed part time due to economic reasons…
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19
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

FOMC Statement: Federal Reserve Discusses Rate Increase, But Concerned About Growth

The post-meeting statement of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee indicated that while the Fed is considering raising its target rate as early as June, the agency is in no hurry to cast anything in cement. The statement cited stronger labor markets and low unemployment rates as encouraging, but noted that FOMC members remain concerned about economic growth due to low inflation failing to meet the FOMC goal of two percent. 15 of 17 Federal Open Market Committee members said that they expected interest rates to increase before year-end, but downwardly revised forecasts of how high rates might be…
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27
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

FHFA House Price Index Rises for 14th Consecutive Quarter

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), U.S. home prices rose by 1.40 percent for the fourth quarter of 2014 and were up by 0.80 percent month-to-month from November. The seasonally adjusted FHFA House Price Index measures purchase transactions for homes connected with mortgages owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA also reported that home prices rose 4.9 percent year-over –year from the fourth quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2014. FHFA Chief Economist Andrew Leventis described the report for the last quarter of 2014 as "relatively strong" and also cited low inventories of available homes…
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19
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

Fed Not in a Hurry to Raise Rates: FOMC Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held January 27 and 28 were released on Wednesday. According to the minute's transcript, it appears that Fed policymakers are in no hurry to raise the target federal funds rate. Members said that raising rates too soon could swamp the strengthening economy and expressed concerns that changing the committee's current "patient" stance on rising rates could cause more harm than good to current economic conditions. FOMC members discussed the Fed's use of the word "patient" in its guidance, and said that dropping the word could incorrectly suggest that the Fed is…
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