Reports from fellow mortgage professionals indicate that mortgage rates are unchanged from yesterday. The par 30 year conventional rate mortgage remains in the 4.625% to 4.875% range for well qualified consumers. To secure the par interest rate you must have a FICO credit score of 740 or higher, a loan to value at 80% or less and pay all closing costs including an estimated one point loan origination/discount/broker fee. If you are seeking a 15 year term, you should expect a par rate in the 4.125% to 4.375% range with similar costs. Mortgage rates are testing the lower boundaries of their range. Given the currently expensive prices of MBS, we don't see much room left for mortgage rates to rally. Still in lock mode.

Benchmark Treasury prices and mortgage-backed security prices rallied yesterday. AQ described the inner dynamics of the trade strategy that led to rate improvements READ MORE. In terms of the headline news catalyst for the rally in bond markets, some fixed income friendly verbiage from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave us a boost late yesterday morning. Reports from fellow mortgage professionals indicate the par 30 year conventional rate mortgage is holding in the 4.625% to 4.875% range for well qualified consumers. To secure a par interest rate you must have a FICO credit score of 740 or higher, a loan to value at 80% or less and pay all closing costs including an estimated one point loan origination/discount/broker fee.

It was a busy day in the rates market yesterday. Although several data releases needed to be digested, the main event was the 30 year bond auction. Recently, while demand for shorter maturity Treasury notes has proven stable in the "post-November 4 FOMC statement" environment, the market has forced yields higher in the long end of the yield curve. Specifically the benchmark 10yr note and the 30 year bond have taken a beating over the past two weeks. Yesterday was the first chance we had to really test market's appetite for longer dated debt investments, which have more of an influence over mortgage rates. Unfortunately, while specific buyers supported the bidding, overall demand was weak compared to previous auctions. Following the release of the auction results, MBS prices plummeted and a few lenders with itchy trigger fingers repriced for the worse. However, soonthereafter the rates market recovered all losses and prices went green on the day! By the end of the day, MBS prices were at their highest levels in quite some time. Most lenders repriced for the better as the gains held until close. To remind readers, as the price of MBS move higher, lenders are able to pass along lower mortgage rates. That momentum has carried over into today as MBS prices are once again slightly higher.

Reports from fellow mortgage professionals indicate mortgage rates are marginally improved from yesterday. This keeps the par 30 year conventional rate mortgage in the 4.75% to 5.00% range for well qualified consumers.

While price action has been volatile so far this morning, MBS continue to hold in the middle of the recent trading range. Because the Employment report was friendly to the fixed income sector, I am switching my outlook from lock to float. However, because we are seeing better rates this morning, there is nothing wrong with locking today to take advantage of overnight and morning improvements.

Mortgage rates ticked higher yesterday as prices of mortgage backed securities were pressured lower by a selloff in the long end of the Treasury yield curve. To remind readers, as prices of MBS and Treasuries fall, their yields or rate increase…price and yield have an inverse relationship. No major report or headline caused the moved lower, AQ and MG point out that it was a function of Friday's bond market rally being unwound before today's Treasury auction announcement and the FOMC meeting which was ignited by a "Build America Bond" issuance pricing in California. Their brains are complicated but we make a good team! Whatever the reason was, price losses held into the close and the majority of lenders repriced for the worse. Reports from fellow mortgage professionals indicate that mortgage rates have moved higher this morning. The par 30 year conventional rate mortgage is now in the 4.875% to 5.125% range for well qualified consumers. To secure a par rate you must have a FICO credit score of 740 or higher, a loan to value at 80% or less and pay all closing costs including one point loan origination/discount/broker fee. You can elect to pay less upfront fees but your interest rate will be higher.

Last week ended on positive note for mortgage backed securities and mortgage rates. As stock indexes fell, market participants re-allocated portfolios from risky assets to safer investments, resulting in added demand for government AAA rated fixed income securities. The benchmark 10 yr Treasury note moved back under 3.40% and MBS closed near their best levels in the past few weeks. Most lenders repriced for the better. Following the release of today’s data, MBS have moved off their recent price highs but continue to hold near the high side of current trading range which I have used to recommend locking or floating. Considering MBS prices are still close to recent highs it makes more sense to lock rather than float, so I would advise anyone closing within the next week to go ahead and lock to remove all chances of a spike higher in mortgage rates.