The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell again this week, echoing a decline in long-term U.S. Treasury bond yields ahead of the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut this year. The rate eased to 6.26% from 6.35% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.09%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate slipped to 5.41% from 5.5% last week. A year ago, it was 5.15%, Freddie M ...

Mortgage rates fell for yet another week. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped nine basis points to 6.26% and 5.41%, respectively. The share of mortgage applications attributed to refinances reached nearly 60%, the highest since January 2022. However, these rates were collected prior to the Fed quarter-point rate cut that was announced yesterday. The "Fed effect" won't truly be measured for another week. Whether that's lower — or higher — mortgage rat ...

While the Federal Reserve has begun cutting rates again, there are many other factors that affect the cost of home loans. ...

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's recent quarter-point rate cut does not guarantee a continued decline in mortgage rates, as various factors influence these rates beyond the Fed's actions [2][4][9]. Mortgage Rate Trends - Mortgage rates have been decreasing since late July, with the average 30-year mortgage rate at 6.35%, the lowest in nearly a year [2]. - A similar trend occurred last year, where rates fell to a two-year low of 6.08% shortly after the Fed's first rate cut in over four years [3]. - Despite the Fed's rate cuts last year, mortgage rates eventually rose, reaching over 7% by mid-January [4]. Influencing Factors - Mortgage rates are influenced by the Fed's interest rate policy, bond market expectations, and inflation [5][6]. - The 10-year Treasury yield, which has been easing since mid-July, is a key determinant for mortgage pricing [6][7]. - The Fed's actions can stimulate the economy but may also lead to inflation, which could increase mortgage rates [8]. Market Expectations - The futures market had anticipated more aggressive rate cuts than the Fed's recent projections indicate, creating a gap that could exert upward pressure on mortgage rates [9][10]. - Economists forecast that the average 30-year mortgage rate will remain between 6.3% and 6.4% by the end of the year, with no expectation for rates to drop below 6% [10]. Housing Market Impact - The decline in mortgage rates has provided some relief to the housing market, which has struggled since 2022, with home sales at their lowest in nearly 30 years [11]. - While lower rates improve purchasing power, high home prices, which have risen approximately 50% since the start of the decade, continue to hinder affordability [12]. - Further reductions in mortgage rates and slower home price growth are necessary to significantly improve market conditions [13]. Refinancing Considerations - Homeowners looking to refinance are taking advantage of the recent rate decline, leading to a surge in refinance loan applications [14]. - A common guideline for refinancing is to achieve at least a one percentage point reduction in the current rate to offset refinancing costs [15].

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hoping that mortgage rates will keep dropping following the Federal Reserve's first rate cut since last year? Don't bank on it. As expected, the central bank delivered a quarter-point cut Wednesday and projected it would lower its benchmark rate twice more this year, reflecting growing concern over the U.S. job market. Here's a look at factors that determine mortgage rates and what the Fed's latest move means for the housing market: How rate cuts affect mortgage rates Mortgage rates ...

Hello and welcome to Asking for a Trend. I'm Josh Lipton and for the next half hour, we are breaking down the trends of today that'll move stocks tomorrow. There's a lot to keep track of, so we're focusing on what you need to know to get ahead of the curve. Here's some of the trends we're going to be diving into.It was a mixed day on Wall Street. Despite investors getting the news they wanted a first Fed Reserve rate cut of the year, at the end of the session, the Dow did end higher. The S&P and the NASDAQ ...

We're joined by John Lvalo, US homebuilders analyst at UBS. John, good to see you. >> Thanks for having me.>> I mean, a lot of moving parts in terms of what drives housing demand and supply, I guess. U quarter point. You think that's enough to excite consumers or is that part of the process of rebuilding it.>> I actually think the most important thing is rate stabilization. So, we're at 6.15% as Diana said, that's most important. Now, to the extent that we get a cut today and the long end of the curve follo ...

Homebuilding company Lennar Corporation LEN could highlight falling mortgage rates and the impact of a potential rate cut when the company reports third-quarter financial results Thursday after market close.Here are the earnings estimates, what experts are saying and key items to watch.Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Lennar to report third-quarter revenue of $9.00 billion, down from $9.42 billion in last year's third quarter, according to data from Benzinga Pro.The company has beaten analyst estimates f ...

Ahead of today’s biggest market news item — the Fed rate cut, expected at 1pm ET today — we see an economic segment directly affected by interest rates, Housing. As we’ll see, the homebuilding side of the housing market continues to cool down — clearly a result of still-high interest rates, which translate to high mortgage rates.August Housing Starts & Building Permits LowerWe had expected Housing Starts to cool month over month, from a +5% pop in July to something a bit lower. But today’s headline 1.307 mi ...

Core Insights - Mortgage interest rates are declining in anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate cut, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.13% and the 15-year rate at 5.41% [1][14] Current Mortgage Rates - The current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.13% - 20-year fixed: 5.52% - 15-year fixed: 5.41% - 5/1 ARM: 6.66% - 7/1 ARM: 6.62% - 30-year VA: 5.73% - 15-year VA: 5.22% - 5/1 VA: 5.88% [4] Mortgage Rate Trends - Mortgage rates have decreased since the beginning of the month but remain slightly higher compared to one year ago, according to Freddie Mac data [16] - The Federal Reserve is expected to lower short-term interest rates, but this may not significantly impact mortgage rates [15] Refinance Rates - Mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, although this is not always the case [2] - To secure a low mortgage refinance rate, improving credit scores and lowering debt-to-income ratios are recommended [17]