Soaring rates baffle economists, frustrate housing leaders

Economists are scratching their heads and housing industry leaders are venting their frustrations as mortgage rates continue a relentless climb to new heights not seen in more than two decades. Continue reading

Are ARMs and 40-year mortgage loans good deals for buyers? 

Focusing exclusively on monthly payments can mean borrowers lose sight of the advantages, and drawbacks, of various loan products. Trainer Bernice Ross looks at some alternatives to the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Continue reading

Mortgage demand hits lowest level since 1997 as rates continue to rise

Thirty-year, fixed-rate loans hit 6.982 percent on Oct. 13, a new 2022 high, according to an Optimal Blue Mortgage Market index. According to an index by Mortgage News Daily, rates were at 7.15 percent. Continue reading

Demand for refinancing ticks up slightly as mortgage rates plateau

Purchase loan applications continue to be weaker “due to the combination of much higher mortgage rates and the worsening economic outlook,” said MBA forecaster Joel Kan. Continue reading

Housing affordability races toward levels not seen since 2006 bubble

If mortgage rates rise by another half a percentage point — or if home prices go up another 5 percent — affordability will hit the worst levels on record, Black Knight warned on Monday. Continue reading

It’s the end of the road for LIBOR mortgages

No new LIBOR loans will be allowed after this year, but there’s also the matter of what to do with roughly $1.4 trillion in existing loans tied to LIBOR. Continue reading

How to begin financing investment properties

Turning homebuyers into investors can mean more financial security for them and more business for agents. But especially less-experienced investors may need help getting started Continue reading