Tag: Mortgage Rates

Inflation is sticking around. Here’s what that means for interest rate cuts — and your money.
Money

Inflation is sticking around. Here’s what that means for interest rate cuts — and your money.

The war against inflation was never going to be easy, but the latest consumer price index data demonstrates just how tough a fight the Federal Reserve is facing. In the months ahead, the outcome of that battle will have major implications for your finances.New labor data shows that U.S. prices in March rose 3.5% from a year ago, hotter than economists expected and the third straight month that inflation has accelerated. Gasoline prices and rent contributed over half the monthly increase, the government said on Wednesday.The upshot: The Fed's ongoing campaign to tame inflation is far from over. That has left consumers and investors wondering if the central bank, who until recently were widely expected to cut its benchmark interest rate in June, could push back that timeline several months,...
Mortgage rate for a typical home loan falls to 6.8% — lowest since June
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Mortgage rate for a typical home loan falls to 6.8% — lowest since June

Mortgage rates are creeping lower after soaring this fall to their highest level in more than two decades.The interest rate on a typical fixed 30-year loan is now 6.8%, its lowest level since June, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday. That's down from 7.1% a week earlier and from 8% in October, the highest in 23 years. The dip comes amid easing inflation and as the Federal Reserve holds its benchmark rate steady while forecasting possible cuts in the new year. Mortgage rates don't necessarily follow the Fed's rate increases, but tend to track the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note. Investors' expectations for future inflation, global demand for Treasurys and Fed policy all influence rates on home loans. The Fed projects that inflation w...
It’s been a brutal year for homebuyers. Here’s what experts predict for 2024, from mortgage rates to prices.
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It’s been a brutal year for homebuyers. Here’s what experts predict for 2024, from mortgage rates to prices.

New real estate data shows sellers incurring more losses, sales down New real estate data shows sellers incurring more losses, sales down 02:14 Homebuyers faced a tough real estate market this year, with home prices continuing their upward march and mortgage rates reaching their highest levels in more than 20 years. Making matters worse, homes for sale were in short supply, putting more upward pressure on prices. The question is whether 2024 will deliver more of the same, or if homebuy...
Here’s how much you need to earn to afford a home in 97 U.S. cities
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Here’s how much you need to earn to afford a home in 97 U.S. cities

You don't have to be a millionaire to buy a home, but earning six figures would help.The typical American household needs an annual income of $115,000 to afford the median priced home, which is $40,000 more than what the average household makes, according to Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather."Even places that historically have been affordable now need six figures," she told CBS MoneyWatch. In pricey San Francisco, it may not be surprising to learn a household income of in excess of $400,000 is needed to afford the median home. But what about Boise City, Idaho, where the figure $127,000. In fact, a six-figure income is required to buy a median priced home in at least 50 U.S. cities, according to data from Redfin. Unless you're a white-collar worke...
Here’s what to do if you get behind on your mortgage payment
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Here’s what to do if you get behind on your mortgage payment

With inflation and interest rates remaining elevated, some U.S. homeowners are having trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments.The average interest rate for a conventional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now hovers around 8%, its highest level since 2000. Homeowners struggling to make their monthly loan payments have several options.Request forbearanceYour lender or loan servicer can grant forbearance, a temporary suspension of payments that typically lasts for three to six months. During the forbearance period, your account is marked as current and paid. Once the forbearance period ends, a homeowner must either repay the missed payments in a lump sum or through an installment plan.  To obtain forbearance, you'll have to prove that you're in financia...
Thinking of getting an adjustable-rate mortgage? Here are 3 questions to ask.
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Thinking of getting an adjustable-rate mortgage? Here are 3 questions to ask.

Demand for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) is growing as interest rates on conventional home loans surge and as people seek an affordable on-ramp for buying a home. The average interest on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit 8% last month, reaching its highest level since August 2000. By comparison, rates on the average ARM currently range between 7.12% and 7.65%, according to Bankrate. What major Missouri court decision in realty case means for home buying and selling 02:33 Still, ARMs aren't right for everyone. Here are three questions homebuyers should ask when considering an adjustable-rate mortgage. What diff...
The Fed will make an interest rate decision next week. Here’s what it may mean for mortgage rates.
Money

The Fed will make an interest rate decision next week. Here’s what it may mean for mortgage rates.

The Federal Reserve's flurry of interest rate hikes since March 2022 have taken a toll on home buyers, pushing the typical mortgage rate above 8%, a level not seen since 2000. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is set to make another interest rate decision that could impact the home loan market.The central bank is expected to hold rates steady at its November 1 meeting, according to economists surveyed by FactSet. That comes as credit cards are now charging the highest interest rates on record, and many home buyers have been priced out of the real estate market due to loan costs. A pause on rate hikes could provide a backstop against higher borrowing costs, yet it might not immediately translate into lower mortgage rates, according to financial experts. That's partly because mortgage rate ...
Home prices and rents have both soared. So which is the better deal?
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Home prices and rents have both soared. So which is the better deal?

Real estate law covers supernatural happenings at Massachusetts homes Real estate law covers supernatural happenings at Massachusetts homes 02:36 The cost of putting a roof over your head has soared since the start of the pandemic, making it more expensive to either sign a new apartment lease or buy a home. That may prompt the question as to whether it's financially smarter in the current environment to rent or take the plunge into homeownership. A new analysis from real estate firm CB...
Mortgage rates touch 8% for the first time since 2000
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Mortgage rates touch 8% for the first time since 2000

Mortgage rates hit 8% on this week, the highest level since August 2000 and deepening an affordability crisis for homebuyers. The average rate for a 30-year loan touched 8% on Wednesday, according to Mortgage News Daily, which surveys a range of lenders to determine current home loan rates. Higher borrowing costs and elevated residential real estate prices have made home buying unaffordable for a larger swath of buyers, economists and researchers say. In about a dozen U.S. states, families with a median income for their area cannot afford a mortgage, according to recent research from Moody's. That's up from only two states in 2019. The national median home price was $430,000 last month, up from $400,000 in January, according to Realtor.com."The 23-year ...
Mortgage rates haven’t been this high since 2000
Money

Mortgage rates haven’t been this high since 2000

Mortgage rates continue to climb, hitting their highest level in nearly 23 years. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan rose to 7.49%, from 7.31% last week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on a 15-year mortgage rate rose to 6.78% from 6.72% last week."Several factors, including shifts in inflation, the job market and uncertainty around the Federal Reserve's next move, are contributing to the highest mortgage rates in a generation," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "Unsurprisingly, this is pulling back homebuyer demand."Depending on the length of the loan, rising mortgage rates add hundreds of dollars to a mortgage payment. While mortgage rates don't necessarily mirror the Fed's rate increases, they tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note.  ...