fomc: The Fed Minutes Keep Mortgage Rates On Hold (For Now) - 01/05/11 09:14 AM
 
The Federal Reserve released its December 14 meeting minutes Tuesday afternoon. There wasn’t much there to disturb mortgage markets, thankfully.
The “Fed Minutes” is an official recap of the most recent meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. It’s published 8 times annually, 3 weeks after the FOMC adjourns.
The Fed Minutes is similar to the meeting minutes released after a corporate conference or condo association gathering in that they provide additional details about the conversation and debate that occurred between meeting attendees.
The Fed Minutes are a lengthy companion to the Federal Reserve’s brief, more well-known, post-meeting press release. But, whereas … (1 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : December 20, 2010 - 12/20/10 09:11 AM
 
Mortgage markets worsened again last week as belief in a U.S. recovery and concerns for inflation took hold on Wall Street.  Conforming mortgage rates rose in Maine for the 6th straight week.
According to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 0.66% higher this week as compared to rates on November 11, but loan originators will tell you that figure is understated.
Real mortgage rates — mortgage rates available to everyday homeowners and buyers in Belfast are up by as much as a full percentage point since November, and loan costs are rising, … (1 comments)

fomc: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (December 14, 2010 Edition) - 12/14/10 03:23 PM
 
Today, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within in its target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
In its press release, the FOMC noted that since November’s meeting, the “economic recovery is continuing”, but at a pace deemed too slow to make a material impact on unemployment rates. It also said that household spending in increasing, but remains constrained by joblessness, tight credit and lower housing wealth.
In addition, the Fed used its press release to re-affirm its plan to keep the Fed Funds Rate near zero percent “for an extended period” while also … (0 comments)

fomc: Make A Mortgage Rate Strategy Ahead Of Today’s Fed Meeting - 12/14/10 03:21 PM
 
The Federal Open Market Committee holds a one-day meeting today, its 8th scheduled meeting of the year and 10th overall.
The FOMC is part of the Federal Reserve, the government group that sets U.S. monetary policy. The Fed’s primary policy-setting tool is an interest rate known as the Fed Funds Rate.  The Fed Funds Rate is the interest rate at which banks borrow money from each other. 
2 years ago Thursday, in an effort to jump-start the economy, the FOMC met and voted to lower the Fed Funds Rate to as close to zero percent as possible without actually going … (1 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : December 13, 2010 - 12/13/10 03:26 PM
Mortgage markets worsened last week as the U.S. economy showed additional signs of strength; and global demand for mortgage bonds slipped.
Conforming mortgage rates rose in Maine and around the country for the fifth straight week. It’s a streak that’s been marked by volatile pricing that’s rendered rate shopping difficult.
Last week, lenders published as many as 5 rate sheets per day where, by comparison, over the past 12 months, lenders have averaged closer to 2 rate sheets per day.
This week, with a bevy of data set for release and a Federal Open Market Committee meeting, expect volatility to remain … (0 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : November 8, 2010 - 11/08/10 09:23 AM
 
Mortgage markets took a roller coaster ride last week, powered by the dual-force of the Federal Open Market Committee, and the government’s monthly Non-Farm Payrolls report.
As standalone events, both releases would have ranked among the top market movers of the year anyway, but throw in the rest of the week’s data –including the release of key inflation figures and the midterm elections — and it’s no wonder the bond markets were so bumpy.
Huge gains and losses characterized day-to-day trading last week. Overall, however, conforming mortgage rates in Maine improved; fixed-rate mortgage rates fell slightly less than adjustable-rate ones.
… (0 comments)

fomc: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (November 3, 2010 Edition) - 11/03/10 03:21 PM
Today, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within in its target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
In its press release, the FOMC noted that, since September’s meeting, the pace of economic and job growth “continues to be slow”.  Housing starts are “depressed”, income growth is “modest” and commercial real estate investment is “weak”.
With respect to its prior economic stimuli, the Fed deemed the recovery “disappointingly slow”, while, at the same time, noting that growth will come.
The Fed also noted that inflation is running lower that what’s optimal, hinting at the potential for … (0 comments)

fomc: Mortgage Rate Lock Alert : Expect Rate Changes Wednesday Afternoon - 11/03/10 02:03 PM
The Federal Reserve ends a scheduled, 2-day meeting today. It’s the seventh of 8 scheduled Fed meetings in 2010, and the eighth overall this year.
The Fed held an unscheduled meeting May 9, 2010.
When today’s meeting adjourns, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke & Co. will publish a formal statement within which the Fed is expected to announce “no change” to the Fed Funds Rate. But that doesn’t mean that mortgage rates won’t change.
To the contrary, expect mortgage rates to move by a lot this afternoon. Here’s why.
The Fed’s mission is to preserve stability within banking and the economy and, … (0 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : November 1, 2010 - 11/01/10 09:00 AM
Mortgage markets remained highly volatile for the second straight week last week. Yet, over the course of 5 days, mortgage bonds ended the week relatively unchanged.
Conforming rates in Maine worsened Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — rising as much as 3/8 percent as compared to the week prior — before settling lower through Thursday and Friday.
On the week overall, 30-year fixed rates worsened, 15-year fixed held steady, and 5-year ARMs improved.
And despite all the data released last week, it wasn’t the fundamentals that were causing rates to move. Instead, Wall Street was firmly focused on the Federal Reserve’s scheduled … (0 comments)

fomc: Fed Minutes Edge Mortgage Rates Higher - 10/13/10 09:19 AM
The Federal Reserve released its September 21, 2010 meeting minutes Tuesday afternoon. Mortgage rates in Maine are slightly higher today.
It’s unwelcome news for this season’s home buyers, and existing homeowners with plans to grab lower rates. Mortgage rates made new lows last week and may have reached a turn-around point.
The “Fed Minutes” is published 8 times annually, and is the official meeting recap for the Federal Open Market Committee. Similar to the meeting minutes released after a corporate conference or condo association gathering, the Fed Minutes details the conversation and debate between meeting attendees.
Minutes are the lengthy companion … (1 comments)

fomc: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (September 21, 2010 Edition) - 09/21/10 03:11 PM
 
Today, in its 7th meeting of the year, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged. 
The Fed Funds Rate remains at a historical low, within a Fed's target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
In its press release, the FOMC said that the pace of economic recovery "has slowed" in recent months. Household spending is increasing but remains restrained by high levels of unemployment, falling home values, and restrictive credit.
For the second straight month, the Federal Reserve showed less economic optimism as compared to the prior year's worth of FOMC statements dating back to … (0 comments)

fomc: The Federal Reserve Meets Today. Should You Lock Your Rate Before It Adjourns? - 09/21/10 09:00 AM
 
The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from its 6th scheduled meeting of the year today, and 7th overall.
Upon adjournment, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will release a formal statement to the market. In it, the Fed is expected to announce "no change" to the Fed Funds Rate.
Currently, the Fed Funds Rate is within a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.  It's been at this same level since December 2008.
Note that the Feds Funds Rate is not "a mortgage rate" -- nor is it a a consumer rate of any kind. The Fed Funds Rate is a rate that … (2 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : September 20, 2010 - 09/20/10 09:09 AM
Mortgage markets were highly volatile, yet relatively unchanged last week in back-and-forth trading on Wall Street. Global investors are grappling with the state of U.S. economy and unable to discern whether it’s growing, or slowing.
As an real-world illustration, the government’s August Retail Sales report showed strong growth nationwide. However, in looking at a subset of that same data that accounted for rising gas prices, and excluded automotive-related sales, the results were far more tame.
In other words, despite the winning headlines, there was no clear conclusion in August’s Retail Sales.
As another example, consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level … (1 comments)

fomc: August’s Fed Minutes Lead Mortgage Rates Higher - 09/02/10 09:06 AM
Home affordability took a slight hit this week after the Federal Reserve's release of its August 10 meeting minutes.
The "Fed Minutes" is a lengthy, detailed recap of a Federal Open Market Committee meeting, not unlike the minutes published after a corporate conference, or condo association gathering. The Federal Reserve publishes its meeting minutes 3 weeks after a FOMC get-together.
The minutes are lengthy, too.
At 6,181 words, August's Fed Minutes is thick with data about the economy, its current threats, and its deeper strengths. The minutes also recount the conversations that, ultimately, shape our nation's monetary policy.
It's for this … (0 comments)

fomc: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (August 10, 2010 Edition) - 08/10/10 08:11 PM
Today, in its first meeting in 6 weeks, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged. 
The Fed Fund Rate remains at a historical low, within a prescribed target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
In its press release, the FOMC said that, since June, the pace of economic recovery “has slowed”. Household spending is increasing but remains restrained because of high levels of unemployment, falling home values, and restrictive credit.
Today’s statement shows less economic optimism as compared to the prior year’s worth of FOMC statements dating back to June 2009. The Fed is looking for … (2 comments)

fomc: The Fed Is Meeting Today. Should You Float Or Lock Your Mortgage Rate? - 08/10/10 09:03 AM
The Federal Open Market Committee holds a one-day meeting today, its fifth scheduled meeting of the year, and sixth overall since January.
The FOMC is the government’s monetary policy-setting arm and the group’s primary tool for that purpose is an interest rate called the Fed Funds Rate. 
The Fed Funds Rate is the prescribed rate at which banks borrow money from each other and, since December 16, 2008, the Federal Reserve has voted to keep the benchmark rate within a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
It’s the lowest Fed Funds Rate in history.
Because the Fed Funds Rate is near zero, … (0 comments)

fomc: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 9, 2010 - 08/09/10 09:06 AM
Mortgage markets improved again last week on softer-than-expected economic data, punctuated by Friday morning’s weak jobs report. Conforming mortgage rates in Maine dropped on the news, making new, all-time lows.
Mortgage rates have been on an extended rally dating back to mid-April.
This week, there’s a lot of data and news due for release, the most influential to markets of which is the Federal Open Market Committee’s scheduled policy meeting.
8 times annually, the FOMC meets to discuss the nation’s monetary policy with respect to the current and projected U.S. economic conditions. Sometimes the FOMC takes action on the economy. Other … (0 comments)

 
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Shannon Odom

Bangor, ME

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