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The mortgage backed securities market has improved dramatically since the new FHFA
seized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. An implicit government backing of
mortgage bonds became explicit with that single event. The rate difference, or
spread as we call it, between govʼt bonds and mortgage bonds, has narrowed from
abnormally high margins. This means that mortgage
rates dropped as much as .375% since the govʼt takeover. Alas, I think that
party is a bit short-lived. The exuberance appears to be a bit irrational and
the reality of impending bank
failures has worried the mortgage backed securities market again.
Short-term, Iʼm advising
clients to lock-in these low rates and be done with it.
For borrowers with a 30 day time period until closing, Iʼm advising
that they lock as well. Rates may spike up and come back down, to these
below 6% levels, but I donʼt see a great opportunity for the medium-term to
improve upon todayʼs already low rates.
Longer-term, mortgage applicants may find mortgage rates higher than they are
today. The realization that SOMEONE has to pay for this bailout will hit
everyone, after the election, and treasury bond yields should rise, pushing the mortgage backed securities yields, and mortgage rates, higher as well. Not a rosy picture.
So, lock those loans at application. While the current
30-year fixed rate loan offering, with 1% origination fee, is 5.75%, for a
conforming loan (6.02% apr), the risk of those rates popping up to the 6% level
far outweighs the reward of holding out for 5.625%.
Long Beach mortgage rates report is offered courtesy of Brian Brady. Contact Brian for more information about a home loan.
Brian
J. Brady World Wide Credit Corp (858)
777-9751 PS- Please check
out my references on LinkedIn
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