What Direction for Mortgage Rates? It depends......Upon Two Events This Week:
- The resolution of the U.S. debt ceiling debate, due Tuesday; and,
The July Non-Farm Payrolls report, due Friday.
Mortgage rates will be volatile as markets grapple with the expectations for the above events, and their eventual outcomes.
Sunday evening, for example, congressional leaders reached an agreement to raise the U.S. debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion, and to introduce $2.5 trillion in budget cuts within 10 years. The deal must pass Congress, however, and until it does, speculation will push mortgage rates around.
Friday’s jobs report could swing mortgage rates also. After starting the year strong, the 2011 jobs market has faded. Net new jobs have dropped 5 months in the row and the national Unemployment Rate is climbing. Weak job growth portends weak consumer spending and a weak economy — typically two outcomes that are good for mortgage rates.
Because of doubt cast by the debt ceiling debate, though, it’s too soon to know how Wall Street will react to the jobs data — strong or weak.
For now, mortgage rates remain low. They may fall further, or they may not. The “safe bet” is to lock.
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