Mortgage markets improved last week as a weakening Eurozone and questions about the U.S. economy sparked a global flight-to-quality. Conforming and FHA mortgage rates improved for the second week in a row. The storylines should sound familiar by now. They are the same ones that have dictated the path of mortgage rates since April 2011. As a result, according to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates across Arizona and nationwide are now at an all-time low.
Not in 50 years of tracking mortgage rates has pricing been so favorable. Last week's holiday-shortened week didn't begin well for rate shoppers in Scottsdale. Rates moved higher on the expectation of additional economic stimulus from two separate parts of the government -- the Federal Reserve and Congress. Wall Street held high hopes for Ben Bernanke's address to the Economic Club of Minnesota, and for the President's address to a joint session of Congress. It expected Fed Chief Bernanke to reveal clues about the Fed's next move; and it expected the President to unleash a massive jobs creation program that would put more Americans to work.
Both outcomes would have harmed mortgage rates as money flowed into stocks. However, neither happened. Bernanke kept mum on the Federal Reserve's options and the White House announced a jobs program smaller in scope than was expected. Mortgage rates fell throughout the day Thursday then received a big boost Friday. Amid rumors of a pending Greek default and the potential credit downgrades of several Eurozone banking groups, safe haven buying picked up and drove mortgage rates down. Markets open this week with rates lower than they've ever been in history. There isn't much new data set for release this week so market expectations will continue to set the direction in which mortgage rates go. If concerns for a Eurozone default rise, mortgage rates should fall. Conversely, if Eurozone chatter settles, mortgage rates should rise. For now, mortgage rates remain at all-time lows and should not be taken for granted. If you see a rate that makes sense for you, consider locking it in. For any questions or comments please feel free to call anytime weekday or weekend at 480-221-9721.
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