Fed signals borrowing costs may stay high

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady for a fifth consecutive meeting, but three officials favored an increase as persistent inflation and a potentially higher neutral rate cloud the outlook for borrowing costs. The shift suggests mortgage rates and other consumer loan rates could remai

Mortgage Rates Roughly Unchanged Despite Bond Market Improvement

Mortgage rates had a tough day on Friday, largely in response to bond market volatility surrounding heavy forex trading as a part of US/Japan efforts to prop up Japanese currency (not a common source of inspiration for rates).  Higher oil prices didn't help. As we begin the new week, de-escalation i

Mortgage Rates Back Near Long-Term Highs

Mortgage application activity pulled back last week as higher borrowing costs weighed on both home purchase and refinance demand. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 6.4% decrease in total application volume on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending July 24. Purchase applicati

Helping buyers look beyond the price

Real estate agents can help buyers make more informed decisions by focusing on the full monthly payment, including taxes, insurance and association fees, rather than the listing price alone. Discussing those costs early can prevent surprises, narrow the home search and demonstrate the value of an ag