Mortgage Market Update - 3/31/08

Today the Stock market struggles out of the gate and Bonds are up slightly. The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index reported better than expected read on Manufacturing. The report showed that Regional manufacturing was at 48.2 up from 44.5 the previous month. The market was expecting a read of 46.0...signaling a welcome increase. However, any read under 50 still signifies that the market is still weak.
On other news...Alphonso Jackson (HUD Secretary) announces his resignation effective April 18th, 2008. He is under investigation over a friend who was paid $392K as a construction manager in New Orleans post Katrina.
Treasury secretary Henry Paulson lays out the Bush Administrations plan to overhaul the Financial Markets. The changes would mark the biggest overhaul to Wall Street since the Great Depression and would allow the Central Bank more control. It would take a couple years to fully engage the policies and prior attempts have failed. Only time will tell and this will certainly prove to be the one to watch!
Reports due out tomorrow: ISM Manufacturing, Construction spending and Vehicle Sales.
That's a wrap...Good Luck

Mortgage Market Update - 3/26/08

Stocks open down this morning as investors face bad news from all angles...New Homes Sales down to a new 13 year low in February, Factory orders were down and oil spiked $3 a barrel. On top of that, the proposed $19 million buyout of Clear Channel is not to clear as banks are relunctant to lend.
Bonds rally as the yield hits 3.45% down from yesterday at 3.5%. Should see lower mortgages rates today...but that could all change quickly.
Good Luck!

Mortgage Market Update - 3/17/08

A lot going on in the market right now. First the big news over the weekend...The Fed cut the discount rate by a quarter and JPMorgan Chase is acquiring Bear Stearn. The Fed's discount rate cut to 3.25% (from 3.5%) should provide banks more ways to obtain short term loans. The Fed will meet on Tuesday to lower the Fed's fund rate...currently expecting a cut of .5%...This would affect the rates given to consumers for short term loans.

The buy out of Bear Stearn has wall street nervous this morning about the financial markets. The Bond Yield is currently at 3.37% and mortgage interest rates have posted out slightly better than Friday. I recommend locking and keeping a close eye on the financial markets today. Anything Goes, expect the unexpected!

Good Luck,

Mortgage Market Update 2/25/08

Stocks and bonds...What will we do... Homes Sales data showing January sales down .04% from December...This was expected. However the stock market may survive today off the talks of Ambac...The bond insurer that is close to reaching an agreement for more capital.
Anything goes this week. Watching the Bond Yield (currently at 3.82%) a drop below 3.8 could cause a mid day price for the better. However a rise over 3.85% could be a rate increase.
Keeping you posted!

Mortgage Market Update for 2/20/08

This is going to be another crazy day in the markets. Just when you thought rates would not go higher, They did!

Two key reports came out: housing starts and CPI...The housing starts were up (barely) and so was the Consumer Price Index. The stock market seems a little slow out of the gate this morning but the bond yield is over 3.9% which means higher rates for us in the mortgage profession. The rising rates have caused the mortgage app volume to drop dramatically for the week ending 2/15 and I can attest to that one personally. Don't rule out refinances yet. There are still a large number of eligible borrowers that need to refi to a fixed rate loan...We just have to find them!

Good Luck!