Banks offer exposure to mortgage risk — and investors want in

The new bond products offer higher yields in a low-interest-rate environment. But if the loans go bad, investors are on the hook. Continue reading

Near historic lows, mortgage rates see little movement in late July

Mortgage rates held steady near month’s end, with interest rates on 15-year fixed rate loans remaining at all-time lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly lender survey. Continue reading

Mortgage rates tick back above 3% as economic recovery continues

Freddie Mac’s chief economist said rates could continue to rise during the second half of the year after reaching historic lows in January. Continue reading

Purchase loan demand up again, bucking increase in mortgage rates

Demand for purchase loans was up for the third week in a row last week, even as mortgage rates surged to the highest level in a month, according to a weekly survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Continue reading

Inman Handbook on pending home sales

Pending sales data has its limits, but it’s also one of the best ways to try to predict the near-term future of the real estate market. Continue reading

What’s the dark side of record-low interest rates? Here are 5 problems

You might automatically think that low interest rates would be wonderful. Unfortunately, there is a dark side as well that’s producing a significant rift across the country between the haves and have-nots. Continue reading