Send Article via Email

Mortgage Rates Stabilize After Opening At Highest Levels Since September

Mortgage rates continued higher today , reaching their worst levels since before the Fed announced the specific buying program of Mortgage-Backed-Securities (MBS) referred to as QE3. MBS are the tradable securities that have the most direct effect on lender's mortgage rates. Simply put, yesterday's news showed a less unified ideology among members of the FOMC ("Federal Open Market Committee," or simply, the Fed, which votes on the policies that dictate the MBS purchases). Markets aren't concerned...

New HUD Research Tool Offers a Wealth of Housing Data

Writers, researchers, and those interested in housing market data have a great new tool to work (or play) with, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The American FactFinder data access tool, an interactive source of information gathered from the 2011 American Housing Survey (AHS) has a wealth of information on the nation's homes and how their occupants live in, finance, and feel about them. A wide range of specific topics is available in the database...

• Realtors Report Multiple Offers, Quick Sales but Continuing Appraisal and Credit Issues
• Where Would Rates go without the Fed?; CFPB's Reach is Far; MBA Addresses Volker Rule and Margins
• MBS RECAP: Battling Back To Positive Territory After Rocky Start
• House Committee Chairs Blast CFPB's "Virtually Limitless Power"
• Bank of America is Back in Lending; Thoughts on Basel III and MSR's; Investors Like Residential Mortgages
• MBS MID-DAY: Off The Lows, But Disconcertingly Weaker On The Day

Micro News

Around the Web

• Fed's Yellen doubts one-size-fits-all bank rules
• Fed's Plosser Says U.S. Growth May Be Permanently Reduced
• Fed's Bullard Tells CNBC: Ending Quantitative Easing Will Depend on Economy, Not Calendar
• Home Price Gains May Slow Down in 2013
• Hey Market, Chill Out: Fed's Not Going Anywhere
• Reverse-Mortgage Lawsuit Against HUD Revived by Appeals Court

Video News

	Santelli's Midday Bond Report
	PNC Targeted By Cyber Terrorists?
	El-Erian: Look for Bottom-Up Housing Opportunities

Today's Comments

	"Locked a 15 year this PM at 2.75%. With rates this good, I'm hesitant to float as the potential for improvement, while there, is less than the potential..."
	"I don't see them requiring bank LO's to pass licensing tests. The biggest banks have way too many personal bankers selling 1st lien portfolio loans..."
	"Gosh, MIke, sorry you are so offended. Not sure why you would think there's a limited pool of folks eligible to refi with HARP, FHA and VA streams..."

Today's Q&A