Mortgage rates moved higher today, bringing them up to yet another 9-month high. Underlying bond markets ended the week in roughly the same shape as last week, but the mortgage bond market has been volatile over the past 3 days. That volatility makes it more expensive for lenders to guarantee any given rate, thus accounting for the new highs this week. It's very important to note that there were two examples of reasonably positive movement in rates this week (Tue/Thu) and that both of them were quickly eclipsed and replaced with new long-term highs on the following day. It's for this reason th... (read more)

Mortgage rates are in trouble . This will come as no surprise to regular readers. For the past few weeks, rates made several successive runs up to the highest levels in more than 9 months. It was really only the spring of 2017 that stood in the way of rates being the highest since early 2014. After Friday marked another "highest in 9 months" day, it would only have taken a moderate movement to break into the "3+ year" territory. The move ended up being even bigger. From a week and a half ago, most borrowers are now looking at another eighth of a percentage point higher in rate. In total, rates... (read more)