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Mortgage Rates Going Back to 1900

By
Real Estate Agent with Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage GREC #208281

I was curious to see just how low mortgage rates are now in a historical perspective.  What were interest rates like over the last 100 plus years?

 The Freddie Mac data only goes back to 1971, But doing a little searching I came up with the book A History of Interest Rates which had a nice table  with the Manhattan/HUD mortgage index going back to 1900.

I combined both data sets and created a chart. 

These are indeed historic times when it comes to mortgage interest rates.  Mortgage rates going back over 100 years, until recently, have never touched 4% or below. 

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About the Author:  Tim Maitski has been a full time Realtor since 1999. He has sold several hundreds of homes in areas around metro Atlanta.  Tim started with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta and is now with Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage.

 

Along with blogging on ActiveRain, he provides one of the best real estate websites in Atlanta at www.HomeAtlanta.com .

 

His proprietary  "Maitski Line Reports" chart out the absorption rates over the past 14 years in 37 different market areas.  Know when it's a good time to buy or a good time to sell.    

 

His online Property Tax Calculator allows you to compare property taxes in many counties and cities around the Atlanta area.  He provides the Atlanta MLS Power Search Tool that allows searches of homes using over 35 specific criteria.

 

Over the years, Tim has optimized his business so that he now can offer a huge 50% commission rebate to his buyers.  The more experience one gets, the easier the job becomes.

 

Tim also has a "Five Days to Sold" System that uses an intensive marketing blitz to create a showing frenzy that creates urgency and offers.

 

Tim is always looking to LinkIn with anyone who is interested in building their social network.

 

View Tim Maitski ●Atlanta Realtor●'s profile on LinkedIn

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Tim- that's pretty interesting.  Wonder what the chart will look like over the next 10 years. 

Jun 08, 2013 06:39 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jun 08, 2013 01:20 PM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Tim, that covers everything I'd ever need or want to know about mortgage interest rates.  My previous analysis typically would only involve 3 to 5 year segments at a time. I've climbed the highest peak and trekked the lowest valley now.  Thank You!  BTW, Kathy brought me to the light.

Jun 08, 2013 11:23 PM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Very cool, Tim. Thanks for taking the time to combine both data sets so we could see back to 1900. 

Jun 09, 2013 08:58 AM
Michael Gendreau
Edina Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
Edina Realty

Interesting

Jun 09, 2013 08:00 PM
Tim Maitski
Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage - Atlanta, GA
Truth, Excellence and a Good Deal

Kathy,  Thank you for the feature. That was nice of you.

Kevin,  I know what you mean.  I glanced through that book on interest rates and was amazed at the breadth of information.  Some day I will sit down and study it a bit.

Rene,  I wanted to see the current rates with a really long term perspective.  I was really amazed at what it shows.

Michael,  I agree.

Jun 09, 2013 08:42 PM