Recent Fed announcements are showing signs of
lowered mortgage rates. With mortgage rates near 50 year lows Fed
again surprised many investors as it plans to buy up to $300 billion
of long-term government bonds and $750 billion in additional
mortgage backed securities. But what does it all mean for you?
This is likely to produce a big drop in mortgage
rates in upcoming days. Refinancing should be able to save you
at least $200 on your monthly payment.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.98% for
the week ending March 19, down from 5.03% last week. The mortgage
averaged 5.87% a year ago. It hasn't been lower since the week
ending Jan. 15, when it hit record low of 4.96%. However, the rate
could soon drop to 4.5 percent, which would drop the payment by
$244.
Because spending that kind of money requires the
Fed essentially to print money, it meant risking inflation.
But it does not meant that there will be inflation at all. As
long as unemployment and consumer spending will keep inflation in
check as businesses hold down prices in order to maintain sales,
there will be no inflation.
Feds move to buy out Treasury securities, moves
prices higher and drives down the yield or interest rate. 10
year Treasury bond dropped by the biggest one day amount since
1981.
Federal Reserve is trying to ease up clocked up
markets as banks are unable to sell their loan portfolios to
investors. Money that is made from selling loan portfolios
allows banks to lend further.
Fed moves should further boost refinancing
activity and even many homeowners are still wondering if they should
wait for even lower rates proves to be more difficult.
Housing market has not improved and borrowers who
wait too long to refinance could find that the no longer have enough
equity in the home to qualify. But the housing market may be
starting to stabilize after interest rates dropped below 5 percent.
There are still many signs of economy looming out
of hand and Fed funds rate currently at its lowest is helping banks
to lend again. But still tight credit market remains.
Good news, now with a surprising twist comes for
ARM borrowers as adjustable-rate mortgages that are about to reset
soon may bring a rates as low as 3.5%. That is because ARMs
are typically tied to 12-month average of one-year Treasury bill
which so far it is below 1 percent.
This may help if you have currently 30 year fixed
mortgage and you plan to stay in your home for another 5 to 6 years
as refinancing may be a good for a long term. If the economy
recovers and inflation becomes an issue, the rates will increase
much higher, in which time you can refinance to fixed rate
again.
The Fed is now ratcheting up other efforts, like
buying securities and essentially printing money, to try to loosen
credit markets. With expansion of money supply, it's only going to
generate economic activity if people actually borrow.