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Markets were closed yesterday for Independence Day. And average mortgage rates fell last Friday, once again significantly. Last week was a seriously good one for those rates. However, it wasn't as good as one June week was bad. So, let's not get carried away.
Still, the good news seems to be continuing this morning. Because, first thing, it was looking as if mortgage rates today might move lower. But, as always, that could change as the hours pass.
Find your lowest rate. Start here (Jul 6th, 2022)
Program | Mortgage Rate | APR* | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Conventional 30 year fixed | 5.564% | 5.599% | Unchanged |
Conventional 15 year fixed | 4.993% | 5.047% | Unchanged |
Conventional 20 year fixed | 5.478% | 5.532% | -0.01% |
Conventional 10 year fixed | 4.782% | 4.867% | -0.01% |
30 year fixed FHA | 5.865% | 6.706% | +0.02% |
15 year fixed FHA | 5.058% | 5.511% | Unchanged |
30 year fixed VA | 5.619% | 5.854% | +0.03% |
15 year fixed VA | 5.179% | 5.552% | Unchanged |
Rates are provided by our partner network, and may not reflect the market. Your rate might be different. Click here for a personalized rate quote. See our rate assumptions here. |
Don't lock on a day when mortgage rates look set to fall. My recommendations (below) are intended to give longer-term suggestions about the overall direction of those rates. So, they don't change daily to reflect fleeting sentiments in volatile markets.
I'm less certain in my doom-mongering than I have been for some time. However, on the balance of probabilities, I still think mortgage rates are more likely to rise over this month than fall.
So, my personal rate lock recommendations for the longer term must remain:
Here's a snapshot of the state of play this morning at about 9:50 a.m. (ET). The data, compared with roughly the same time last Friday, were:
*A movement of less than $20 on gold prices or 40 cents on oil ones is a change of 1% or less. So we only count meaningful differences as good or bad for mortgage rates.
Before the pandemic and the Federal Reserve's interventions in the mortgage market, you could look at the above figures and make a pretty good guess about what would happen to mortgage rates that day. But that's no longer the case. We still make daily calls. And are usually right. But our record for accuracy won't achieve its former high levels until things settle down.
So use markets only as a rough guide. Because they have to be exceptionally strong or weak to rely on them. But, with that caveat, mortgage rates today look likely to fall. However, be aware that "intraday swings" (when rates change direction during the day) are a common feature right now.
Find your lowest rate. Start here (Jul 6th, 2022)Here are some things you need to know:
A lot is going on at the moment. And nobody can claim to know with certainty what will happen to mortgage rates in the coming hours, days, weeks or months.
Mortgage rates rose only a tiny bit in June. And they fell back on Jul. 1, leaving them back where they were on Jun. 6, according to Mortgage News Daily's archive.
You can see why I wrote earlier that I'm less certain in my doom-mongering. However, it's not those rate figures that are mainly swaying me. It's the possibility that inflation might soon begin to level out and fall, which would mean the Federal Reserve would not have to hike interest rates as much as currently planned.
Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal (paywall) ran a story under the headline, "Falling Commodity Prices Raise Hopes That Inflation Has Peaked." And it began, "A slide in all manner of raw-materials prices — corn, wheat, copper and more — is stirring hopes that a significant source of inflationary pressure might be starting to ease."
Another Journal article, written on Sunday, reported: "China's slowdown may have a silver lining for the rest of the world: weaker inflation. Growth in the world's second-largest economy has tumbled this year as COVID-19 outbreaks triggered mass lockdowns and business closures."
There's always been an argument (I've mentioned it previously) that current inflation levels have been caused by supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine. We could see that in real time as it happened. Lower supply resulting from those events met continuing demand, and prices rose. Economics 101.
So, if old monetary policy (the Fed leaving rates low and building its assets) didn't cause inflation, why should we think new monetary policy (the Fed hiking rates and disposing of assets) will fix it? By this argument, the most likely outcome of the central bank's actions is a recession with only a limited effect on prices.
That would normally be good news for mortgage rates but for little else. However, as I've been highlighting recently, the highest mortgage rates in history happened during a recession — because the Fed was furiously hiking its rates at the time.
This is a roundabout way of saying nobody can be certain what's next for the economy or mortgage rates. My colleague Paul Centopani just posted his monthly column, Mortgage interest rate predictions: Will rates go down in July 2022?
And most of the mortgage experts he quoted believe mortgage rates are more likely to rise than fall in July. However, the minority taking the opposite view was persuasive.
For now, I'm sticking to my guns because I still think mortgage rates are overall more likely to rise than fall this month. But I'll be watching closely in the hope more evidence begins to emerge to the contrary.
Read the weekend edition of this daily article for more background.
Over much of 2020, the overall trend for mortgage rates was clearly downward. And a new, weekly all-time low was set on 16 occasions that year, according to Freddie Mac.
The most recent weekly record low occurred on Jan. 7, 2021, when it stood at 2.65% for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
Rates then bumbled along, moving little for the following eight or nine months. But they began rising noticeably that September. Unfortunately, they've been mostly shooting up since the start of 2022, although May was a kinder month.
Freddie's June 30 report puts that same weekly average for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages at 5.70% (with 0.9 fees and points), down from the previous week's 5.81%.
Note that Freddie expects you to buy discount points ("with 0.9 fees and points") on closing that earn you a lower rate. If you don't do that, your rate would be closer to the ones we and others quote.
Looking further ahead, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) each has a team of economists dedicated to monitoring and forecasting what will happen to the economy, the housing sector and mortgage rates.
And here are their current rate forecasts for the remaining three quarters of 2022 (Q2/22, Q3/22, Q4/22) and the first quarter of next year (Q1/23).
The numbers in the table below are for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages. Fannie's were published on Jun. 16, and the MBA's on Jun. 10. Freddie's were released on Apr. 18. But it now updates its figures only quarterly, so they're already looking stale.
Forecaster | Q2/22 | Q3/22 | Q4/22 | Q1/23 |
Fannie Mae | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Freddie Mac | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
MBA | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Of course, given so many unknowables, the whole current crop of forecasts might be even more speculative than usual. Recent events certainly make them look that way.
You should comparison shop widely, no matter what sort of mortgage you want. As a federal regulator the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says:
"Shopping around for your mortgage has the potential to lead to real savings. It may not sound like much, but saving even a quarter of a point in interest on your mortgage saves you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan."
Verify your new rate (Jul 6th, 2022)Mortgage rate methodology
The Mortgage Reports receives rates based on selected criteria from multiple lending partners each day. We arrive at an average rate and APR for each loan type to display in our chart. Because we average an array of rates, it gives you a better idea of what you might find in the marketplace. Furthermore, we average rates for the same loan types. For example, FHA fixed with FHA fixed. The end result is a good snapshot of daily rates and how they change over time.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a new place to live, and the decision isn't always easy. But for those searching for a great climate, a strong economy, and quality education, Western Michigan checks every box. In fact, our real estate agents say people from all over the world move to Western Michigan thanks to its many amenities. Once you see what our great communities have to offer, we're sure you'll be eager to call this area home.
If you're on the hunt for a new place to live, here are a few reasons why you make sure Western Michigan is on the top of your list:
National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
Sure, everyone loves vanilla and strawberry, but Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day is all about trying something unique, like lavender ice cream or pickle ice cream.
Vanilla is often touted as the favorite flavor of ice cream, but we think that's just because people haven't been daring enough with their ice cream choices. National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day encourages you to take your taste buds to the rodeo and give a new flavor a try!
As the name suggests, the purpose of National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day is to branch away from vanilla ice cream and try something completely out-of-the-norm. It is up to you how far you go with this. For example, if you are someone who barely ever tries anything but vanilla, you may want to give mint choc chip a try or some rum and raisin ice cream.
For you, that may be pushing the boat out! For someone else, they may feel like they have already tried every sort of ice cream that is commercially available. If you fall into this category, then why not use National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day in order to come up with a flavor of ice cream that you've never tried before or seen in any stores?
You can go as wild and unusual as you like. You can try different flavors, such as adding herbs, like basil into the mix, and other different concoctions. It is up to you. Or, you could try and turn your favorite chocolate bar or candy into an ice cream treat? This is an approach that never fails. After all, if it tastes good as chocolate, the chances are that it is going to taste pretty amazing when turned into ice cream, right?
Did you know that Ben & Jerry's receive more than 13,000 flavor suggestions from fans each year? They have published some of the weirdest suggestions they have received.
This includes Salty Licorice, which is vanilla ice cream, with swirls of salty and sweet licorice in order to create a black-and-white striped experience. Someone suggested Pepperoni flavor – a simple vanilla ice cream with chunks of candied pepperoni. Yum!
Although, we think we would probably rather eat that than the Gregarious Gorgonzola that was requested by one fan. They want dark chocolate ice cream that features gorgonzola cheese and raspberry jam. Another fan wanted Ben & Jerry's to create macaroni ice cream, called Mac and Freeze. Oh, and we can't forget about Spuds and Fudge, which would be chocolate ice cream with bits of candied French fries. Do any of these flavors float your boat?
When people think about flavors of ice cream, they mostly think about what they can get off the grocery store shelves or from 31 flavors. When you take a moment to consider that ice cream was first invented in the 5th Century BC by the Ancient Greeks, and from there has traveled around the world and through every culture, you realize that the smattering of flavors you've experienced in your life is just the beginning. Somehow this seems like a perfect metaphor about our daily lives as well, don't you think?
Do you like vanilla ice cream? Chocolate? What about strawberry? Chances are you love all these flavors, but have you ever considered saffron ice cream? What about rose flavored? These are just some of the flavors that were possible in years past, and doesn't even begin to cover the absolute rainbow of flavors that come from fruits!
Of course, most of these probably don't seem all that unusual or creative, do they? That's ok! If you're truly feeling adventurous you can try crab and oyster flavored ice cream, or garlic flavored!
BY ADRIAN NITA
Are you looking to get rid of some old smart home gadgets? Maybe you're upgrading to newer models or just decluttering your home. Whatever the reason, selling your old smart home gadgets can be a great way to make some extra money.
No matter what kind of smart home gadgets you have, there's a good chance you can sell them and get some money back. Here are some of the best places to sell your old smart home gadgets.
Decluttr is a great option if you want to sell your old smart home gadgets quickly and easily. All you have to do is enter the name of the gadget you want to sell, and Decluttr will give you an instant valuation.
If you're happy with the offer, the company will send you a shipping label, so you can send your items for free. Once your items are received, you'll get paid the next day via PayPal, direct deposit, or check.
The turnaround time is around 3-5 days, including shipping.
It's a great way to get rid of old smart home gadgets without having to deal with the hassle of listing them individually on a marketplace, but you will likely get less money than you would if you sold them yourself.
Amazon Trade-In is an excellent option if you're looking to get Amazon gift cards in exchange for your old smart home gadgets.
To get started, you'll need to search for the gadget you want to sell on Amazon's website. Once you've found it, select the condition of the gadget, and Amazon will provide you with an estimated value.
If you're happy with the offer, you can print out a shipping label and send your gadget to Amazon for free. Once the company receives and inspects your item, you'll get an Amazon gift card for the appraised value.
It's a quick and easy way to get rid of old smart home gadgets, and you'll be able to use Amazon gift cards to buy new gadgets or anything else you want from Amazon.
If you prefer to trade in your gadgets in person, you can also take them to certain physical Amazon locations that will appraise and accept your items on the spot.
With certain gadgets, you can also get a discount coupon on a new gadget when you trade in your old one, making it a great option if you're looking to upgrade.
Amazon offers free shipping and pays out via Amazon gift card.
The turnaround time is around two days after Amazon receives your gadget.
If you're looking for a slightly higher payout than what Amazon or Decluttr offers, ItsWorthMore may be a good option for you.
Like Decluttr, ItsWorthMore, you will need to answer a few questions about your gadget like the model, condition, and any included accessories.
Although ItsWorthMore doesn't accept as wide a range of smart home gadgets as Decluttr, they do accept smart home control hubs and smartwatches.
After that, you'll get an instant quote and can decide whether or not you want to move forward with the sale.
ItsWorthMore offers free shipping and pays out via PayPal, check, or Zelle once the company has received and inspected your items.
The turnaround time is around up to 5 days.
Want to trade in your old Apple smart home gadgets to get a discount on a new one? Apple Trade In is the perfect place to do that.
From Apple TV to the HomePod, Apple Trade In accepts a wide range of Apple smart home gadgets.
The only downside is that you can only trade in Apple products, so if you have any non-Apple gadgets, you'll need to look elsewhere.
To get started, simply bring your old Apple gadget into an Apple Store or go to the Apple Trade In website and enter your gadget's information.
Apple will give you an estimated trade-in value, which you can then use to get a discount on a new Apple product.
You can also choose to receive an Apple Store gift card instead of using the trade-in value towards a new purchase.
Apple offers free shipping or in-store trade-in and pays out via Apple Store gift card or instant credit towards a new purchase.
The turnaround time can take up to a couple of weeks if done online or instant if done in-store.
Want to get rid of old smart home gadgets and receive a Best Buy gift card in return? If so, the Best Buy Trade-In Program is a great option.
It's a similar process to the other trade-in programs on this list. First, you'll need to find your gadget on Best Buy's website and answer a few questions about its condition.
After that, Best Buy will provide you with an estimated value for your gadget. If you're happy with the offer, you can print out a shipping label and send your gadget to Best Buy for free.
Once the company receives and inspects your item, you'll get a Best Buy gift card for the appraised value.
Best Buy offers free shipping and pays out via Best Buy gift card.
The turnaround time is up to 9 days when done online or instant when done in-store.
If you don't mind waiting a bit for your smart home gadgets to sell, then Swappa is a great option. You can choose your price, and you won't have to pay any listing fees. The only fee you'll pay is a selling fee after your item sells, depending on how much it sells for.
To get started, create a listing for your gadget on Swappa and include as many details as possible, such as photos, condition, included accessories, etc.
Once your listing is live, potential buyers will be able to contact you to purchase your gadget.
The payment process is handled through PayPal, and you'll be responsible for shipping the item to the buyer.
The turnaround time on Swappa can vary depending on how quickly your item sells.
If you're looking for a platform with a large audience, then eBay is your best bet.
Selling on eBay is a pretty straightforward process, and you can list your old smart home gadgets easily.
You'll need to take some good-quality photos, write a detailed description, and set your price.
eBay does charge listing fees as well as a final value fee (which is a percentage of the total sale price), so keep that in mind when pricing your item.
Creating a listing is free, and you can choose to auction off your gadget or set a fixed price.
You'll also be responsible for shipping your gadget to the buyer, and payments are handled through PayPal.
The turnaround time on eBay can vary depending on how quickly your item sells, so it may take a while to receive payment.
Selling locally has never been easier, thanks to Facebook Marketplace. This feature allows anyone with a Facebook account to buy and sell items within their community.
If you're looking to get rid of your old smart home gadgets, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to start. You can create a listing for each item you're selling, and potential buyers can contact you directly to make an offer.
The best part about selling on Facebook Marketplace is that it's completely free. There are no fees or commissions to worry about.
Although Facebook Marketplace has pros and cons, it's definitely a quick and easy way to sell your old smart home gadgets.
The only downside is that you'll need to handle payment and shipping on your own.
The turnaround time on Facebook Marketplace can vary depending on how quickly your item sells.
Selling your old smart home gadgets doesn't have to be difficult. With plenty of hassle-free trade-in and resale options available, you can get rid of your unwanted gadgets and receive payment quickly and easily.
Don't let your old gadgets collect dust and take up space. Use one of the options on this list to get rid of them for good and earn some extra cash in the process.
Average mortgage rates inched lower yesterday, mirroring the previous day's similarly tiny rise. However, those movements don't reflect the week as a whole, which has been disastrous for those rates. And those for conventional 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have been above 6% since Monday.
I guess I should resume my rate predictions for the week ahead, even though current volatility means you should have minimal confidence in their accuracy — as do I. I think, on balance, mortgage rates are more likely to rise than fall next week.
Markets will be closed on Monday for the Juneteenth federal holiday. So we'll be back with our daily reports on Tuesday.
Find and lock a low rate (Jun 20th, 2022)
Program | Mortgage Rate | APR* | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Conventional 30 year fixed | 6.15% | 6.185% | +0.02% |
Conventional 15 year fixed | 5.072% | 5.115% | -0.02% |
Conventional 20 year fixed | 6.023% | 6.07% | -0.1% |
Conventional 10 year fixed | 5.375% | 5.457% | -0.05% |
30 year fixed FHA | 5.867% | 6.605% | Unchanged |
15 year fixed FHA | 5.291% | 5.808% | -0.03% |
30 year fixed VA | 5.208% | 5.427% | -0.07% |
15 year fixed VA | 5.44% | 5.814% | -0.11% |
Rates are provided by our partner network, and may not reflect the market. Your rate might be different. Click here for a personalized rate quote. See our rate assumptions here. |
Find and lock a low rate (Jun 20th, 2022)
Don't lock on a day when mortgage rates look set to fall. My recommendations (below) are intended to give longer-term suggestions about the overall direction of those rates. So, they don't change daily to reflect fleeting sentiments in volatile markets.
Average mortgage rates have climbed sharply higher so far in June. True, there was a day when they fell significantly, too. But, overall, the month (and especially the last eight days) has been shockingly bad. Who, 18 days ago, would have thought the most popular rate would be above 6% today?
We might be in for a somewhat calmer time now markets have had a chance to digest Wednesday's Federal Reserve announcements. Let's hope volatility gently fades.
But I guess that mortgage rates won't fall far or for long until inflation levels off and begins to drop. In the meantime, I reckon mortgage rate rises are likely to outweigh falls.
And so, my personal rate lock recommendations remain:
However, with so much uncertainty at the moment, your instincts could easily turn out to be as good as mine — or better. So let your gut and your personal tolerance for risk help guide you.
Last week, I was quoting Mortgage News Daily's (MND's) data, marveling that "the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage soared by 30 basis points yesterday (a basis point is one-hundredth of 1%). In other words, they jumped from 5.55% to 5.85%." Today, seven days later, that rate is 6.03%, according to the same source.
I'd be shocked if those rates were to continue to climb so quickly. That's highly unlikely now that markets have digested both last Friday's inflation data and this Wednesday's Federal Reserve announcements.
Still, I shouldn't be a bit surprised if they were to continue to rise but much more gently. As long as inflation remains uncomfortably hot, it will be a tough sell to get investors to buy bonds. And mortgage rates are primarily determined by the yields on one type of bond, the mortgage-backed security (MBS).
You can understand why bonds are so unattractive when inflation is running hot. Investors are buying a fixed income, a "yield." And, with nearly all bonds (really risky ones would be the exception) currently, yields are lower than the inflation rate. So every bond bought has a real-terms (after inflation) loss baked in.
So why are investors still buying MBS and other bonds? It's a bit like the old joke about the two hikers in the woods who encounter a bear. One changes into trainers, and the other says, "You can't outrun a bear." The other replies, "I don't have to. I just have to outrun you."
There's a parallel with bonds. While stock markets are looking so dicey, investors crave the security of safe investments, such as MBSs. And those MBSs don't have to deliver a real-terms profit. They just have to outrun other financial contenders in the risks and rewards they offer.
High demand for MBSs pushes mortgage rates lower. This is a bit counterintuitive. But it's easy to grasp once you recognize that bond prices always move inversely to their yields. So higher demand = higher prices = lower yields (and mortgage rates). Lower demand = lower prices = higher yields (and mortgage rates).
Of course, nobody can be sure what will happen to mortgage rates in the future. Those who try to peer ahead can only weigh the likelihood of different possible scenarios and extrapolate from there. No wonder experts often disagree.
I suspect inflation will continue to be high for months to come, perhaps well into 2023. That depends on various things, including how quickly the Fed's anti-inflation measures take to work and how long Russia's war in Ukraine drags on.
And, despite the bear metaphor, I doubt investors will be piling into MBSs until inflation has leveled out and begun to fall.
To me, that implies mortgage rates will continue to rise, though, with luck, at a more gentle pace than so far in 2022. Of course, there will always be days and weeks when those rates fall. Such periods are inevitable.
But I'm not convinced those rates will fall back to their pandemic-era and pre-pandemic levels for a very long time.
If you look back through Freddie Mac's archives, you'll see that 6.x% mortgage rates were common before 2008 and would often have been perceived as low. It may be that the last 14 years have been the freaky exception and that we're returning to normalcy.
Next week is very light on economic reports. Several top Fed officials have speaking engagements, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who will be testifying on Capitol Hill on Wednesday and Thursday. Markets will be listening to both the tone and content of what's said as they try to assess what the Fed might do next to tackle inflation.
The potentially most important reports, below, are set in bold. The others are unlikely to move markets much unless they contain shockingly good or bad data.
In a quiet week, Fed speakers are most likely to move mortgage rates.
Verify your new rate (Jun 20th, 2022)
Please don't take my weekly forecasts too seriously. There's too much volatility in markets for them to be reliable. But I'm guessing mortgage rates might move a little higher next week. Even if I'm wrong over timing, I'd expect slightly higher rates soon.
Mortgage and refinance rates usually move in tandem. And the scrapping of the adverse market refinance fee last year has largely eliminated a gap that had grown between the two.
Meanwhile, another recent regulatory change has likely made mortgages for investment properties and vacation homes more accessible and less costly.
Mortgage and refinance rates are generally determined by prices in a secondary market (similar to the stock or bond markets) where mortgage-backed securities are traded.
And that's highly dependent on the economy. So mortgage rates tend to be high when things are going well and low when the economy's in trouble.
But you play a big part in determining your own mortgage rate in five ways. And you can affect it significantly by:
Time spent getting these ducks in a row can see you winning lower rates.
Be sure to count all your forthcoming homeownership costs when you're working out how big a mortgage you can afford. So focus on your "PITI." That's your Principal (pays down the amount you borrowed), Interest (the price of borrowing), (property) Taxes, and (homeowners) Insurance. Our mortgage calculator can help with these.
Depending on your type of mortgage and the size of your down payment, you may have to pay mortgage insurance, too. And that can easily run into three figures every month.
But there are other potential costs. So you'll have to pay homeowners association dues if you choose to live somewhere with an HOA. And, wherever you live, you should expect repairs and maintenance costs. There's no landlord to call when things go wrong!
Finally, you'll find it hard to forget closing costs. You can see those reflected in the annual percentage rate (APR) that lenders will quote you. Because that effectively spreads them out over your loan's term, making that higher than your straight mortgage rate.
But you may be able to get help with those closing costs and your down payment, especially if you're a first-time buyer. Read:
Down payment assistance programs in every state for 2021
Mortgage rate methodology
The Mortgage Reports receives rates based on selected criteria from multiple lending partners each day. We arrive at an average rate and APR for each loan type to display in our chart. Because we average an array of rates, it gives you a better idea of what you might find in the marketplace. Furthermore, we average rates for the same loan types. For example, FHA fixed with FHA fixed. The result is a good snapshot of daily rates and how they change over time.
With so many of us spending summer weekends doing yard work, our real estate agents thought it'd be a great time to share some landscaping tips.
Great landscaping is both an art and a science. We know creating the perfect yard takes time and practice, and it's well worth it. Remember, beautiful landscaping can make or break your curb appeal. Therefore, learning best practices and avoiding mistakes can really help boost your property value and attract attention when it comes time to sell your home.
Average mortgage rates moved moderately higher yesterday. And they're now perilously close to the 13-year-record highs we saw in early May.
Markets have been roiled by this morning's publication of May's consumer price index. And, so far, it's looking as if mortgage rates today might rise again.
Find your lowest rate. Start here (Jun 10th, 2022)
Program | Mortgage Rate | APR* | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Conventional 30 year fixed | 5.648% | 5.673% | +0.07% |
Conventional 15 year fixed | 4.662% | 4.692% | +0.03% |
Conventional 20 year fixed | 5.564% | 5.598% | +0.13% |
Conventional 10 year fixed | 4.655% | 4.757% | Unchanged |
30 year fixed FHA | 5.356% | 6.064% | -0.09% |
15 year fixed FHA | 4.962% | 5.416% | +0.11% |
30 year fixed VA | 5.066% | 5.285% | +0.04% |
15 year fixed VA | 5.622% | 5.975% | Unchanged |
Rates are provided by our partner network, and may not reflect the market. Your rate might be different. Click here for a personalized rate quote. See our rate assumptions here. |
Don't lock on a day when mortgage rates look set to fall. My recommendations (below) are intended to give longer-term suggestions about the overall direction of those rates. So, they don't change daily to reflect fleeting sentiments in volatile markets.
This morning's inflation data (the consumer price index) may well generate turbulence in markets. But it's unlikely to reset the trend in mortgage rates. Because there's more — potentially bigger — news coming down the line next week.
I can't yet find a good reason to change my mind over the likely future direction of mortgage rates. And I still think they're more likely to rise than fall. But, with luck, the pace of rises may slow.
So, my personal rate lock recommendations for the longer term remain:
Here's a snapshot of the state of play this morning at about 9:50 a.m. (ET). The data, compared with roughly the same time yesterday, were:
*A movement of less than $20 on gold prices or 40 cents on oil ones is a change of 1% or less. So we only count meaningful differences as good or bad for mortgage rates.
Before the pandemic and the Federal Reserve's interventions in the mortgage market, you could look at the above figures and make a pretty good guess about what would happen to mortgage rates that day. But that's no longer the case. We still make daily calls. And are usually right. But our record for accuracy won't achieve its former high levels until things settle down.
So use markets only as a rough guide. Because they have to be exceptionally strong or weak to rely on them. But, with that caveat, mortgage rates today might rise. However, be aware that "intraday swings" (when rates change direction during the day) are a common feature right now.
Find your lowest rate. Start here (Jun 10th, 2022)Here are some things you need to know:
A lot is going on at the moment. And nobody can claim to know with certainty what will happen to mortgage rates in the coming hours, days, weeks or months.
This morning's release of May's consumer price index (CPI) was undoubtedly important. Investors are obsessed with inflation data.
We now know that inflation that month resumed its march higher. And at a faster pace than most economists expected. In a breaking news email earlier, The Financial Times said:
US consumer price growth resumed its rapid rise in May, accelerating 1 percent during the month as rising inflation in the services sector added urgency to the Federal Reserve's plans to aggressively tighten monetary policy.
But it's so far unclear how markets will respond to this morning's report, once they've fully digested it. Often, important economic data provoke an initial knee-jerk reaction in markets only for that to change later in the day as investors think through the implications.
Today, investors will be wondering whether and how this morning's figures will influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), when it meets next week. We'll know more next Wednesday (Jun. 15) at 2 p.m. (ET), when the FOMC issues a post-meeting statement, which will include some policy plans. And there will be a news conference, hosted by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, 30 minutes later.
If the FOMC delivers definitive guidance next week, mortgage rates may settle down a bit. But if it leaves plenty of uncertainty in place, you should probably expect the current volatility to continue.
Read the weekend edition of this daily article for more background.
Over much of 2020, the overall trend for mortgage rates was clearly downward. And a new, weekly all-time low was set on 16 occasions that year, according to Freddie Mac.
The most recent weekly record low occurred on Jan. 7, 2021, when it stood at 2.65% for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
Rates then bumbled along, moving little for the following eight or nine months. But they began rising noticeably that September. Unfortunately, they've been mostly shooting up since the start of 2022, although May was a kinder month.
Freddie's June 9 report puts that same weekly average for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages at 5.23% (with 0.9 fees and points), up from the previous week's 5.09%.
Note that Freddie expects you to buy discount points ("with 0.9 fees and points") on closing that earn you a lower rate. If you don't do that, your rate would be closer to the ones we and others quote.
Looking further ahead, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) each has a team of economists dedicated to monitoring and forecasting what will happen to the economy, the housing sector and mortgage rates.
And here are their current rate forecasts for the remaining three quarters of 2022 (Q2/22, Q3/22, Q4/22) and the first quarter of next year (Q1/23).
The numbers in the table below are for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages. Fannie's were published on May 19, and the MBA's on May 16. Freddie's were released on Apr. 18. But it now updates its figures only quarterly so they're already looking stale.
Forecaster | Q2/22 | Q3/22 | Q4/22 | Q1/23 |
Fannie Mae | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% |
Freddie Mac | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
MBA | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Of course, given so many unknowables, the whole current crop of forecasts might be even more speculative than usual.
You should comparison shop widely, no matter what sort of mortgage you want. As federal regulator the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says:
"Shopping around for your mortgage has the potential to lead to real savings. It may not sound like much, but saving even a quarter of a point in interest on your mortgage saves you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan."
Verify your new rate (Jun 10th, 2022)Mortgage rate methodology
The Mortgage Reports receives rates based on selected criteria from multiple lending partners each day. We arrive at an average rate and APR for each loan type to display in our chart. Because we average an array of rates, it gives you a better idea of what you might find in the marketplace. Furthermore, we average rates for the same loan types. For example, FHA fixed with FHA fixed. The end result is a good snapshot of daily rates and how they change over time.
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