Most real estate professionals believe rate cuts by the Fed will be crucial for a sales recovery, according to results from the Inman Intel Index survey. But the timing on those cuts is hazy. Continue reading
After picking up during the first three weeks of January, applications for purchase loans are contracting, with mortgage rates no longer in free fall from 2023 highs. Continue reading
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting is not “the base case,” with policymakers wanting to see more data showing inflation is on a sustainable path down to 2 percent. Continue reading
Federal Reserve policymakers anticipate three rate cuts by the end of next year, but many think the central bank may cut faster and harder. Continue reading
Investors who fund most mortgages remain convinced the Fed will begin lowering rates in the spring to avoid strangling the economy. Continue reading
Tuesday’s big drop in rates followed an encouraging inflation report, with bond market investors now convinced the Fed is done hiking rates and may reverse course in the spring. Continue reading
Speaking at an IMF research conference, Powell said the Fed is committed to raising rates as high as needed to bring inflation down, and “we are not confident that we have achieved such a stance.” Continue reading
Loan applications slipped to lowest level since 1995 as mortgage rates climb for the seventh week in a row, according to a weekly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Continue reading
The Fed chair acknowledged that in principle, elevated term premiums — higher rates of return bond investors are demanding to compensate them for risk — could reduce the need for further rate hikes. Continue reading
Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warns bankers that she thinks the Fed may need to hike rates more than once and keep them high next year to get inflation under control. Continue reading