On Friday two huge reports come out – Advance Q4 GDP (measures US economic production) and Q4 Employment Cost Index (a measure of wage inflation). Weaker figures on both will lead to lower rates…
Author Archives: barry
Real Estate Owned Speedwagon now on tour
January 19, 2011 – 10:14 am
Rates rose a little on Friday which is typical before a long weekend. With this week being a slow economic week I think rates will remain fairly stable. 30-year fixed rates are hovering in the high 4s/ low 5s, and ARMS about a point less. As usual rates vary based on type of…
The Fed’s diary, and are rates going back down?
January 12, 2011 – 8:57 am
Today at 1:00 the Fed will report details of current economic conditions across the country in the Beige Book Report. (side note: the Fed is still ignoring my requests to have this turned into a pop-up book). Signs of weakness will…
Will 2011 be a Happy New Year?
January 6, 2011 – 9:17 am
Market reports come out daily which have an impact on interest rates. Compared to last year these reports are forecast to be up: The housing market, home values, employment, 10-year note auctions, and construction spending. Compared to last year these reports are forecast to be down: credit card applications, import/export…
Egg nog, vacations, and gold – oh my!
January 6, 2011 – 9:09 am
Rates have climbed over the past three weeks almost a full point. People have been asking me why and I don’t have a great explanation (flashbacks to Miss Lopez asking me why I couldn’t pay attention in her class). My best guess is that it’s a combination of increased inflation fears tied with the Fed’s quantitative easing and…
I Believe in Santa and Other Stuff Too
December 21, 2010 – 9:22 am
‘Tis the season of believing, Mortgage Fans! Besides the economy, here is my list of the Top 11 things I believe in right now:
1. Opinions are great because there is no right or wrong, but I believe if you don’t believe there is a higher power, life on other
It’s not easy being green
December 6, 2010 – 8:43 am
Interest rates rose almost a half a point last week due to some weak treasury auctions (read: foreign banks are cooling to our debt which is not good for rates). Two ginormous reports come out…
Is QE2 DOA?
November 18, 2010 – 6:50 am
We’ve got a Situation going on and it ain’t good. The Fed announced for QE2 that it would buy $600 billion worth of bonds to help keep rates down. To do this they have to print money which causes inflation and devalues the dollar…
How low can rates and Mindy Beck go?
November 11, 2010 – 8:01 am
I recently saw an economist speak (I was having trouble sleeping) who said he can see 30-year fixed rates falling into the mid-3s. While I think this may be a stretch it’s certainly not impossible..
The weight on the Fed’s shoulders weighs more than my change jar
November 4, 2010 – 6:18 am
The biggest report that will sway rates comes out today at 1:15 CST when the Fed Meeting adjourns. This is a two day meeting where Ben Bernanke gets together with the other twelve members of the Federal Open Market Committee to discuss monetary policy. I can’t even imagine the level of boredom in that room…
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