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Is it Deflation? Hopefully SO!

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve indicated that our economy is showing signs of deflation. This means that the average price of goods may be going down instead of up. This is good for our pocketbook.  Gas prices continue to go down. 

The market has reacted by moving money from the stock market into the bond market. Usually, this would cause mortgage rates to drop.   Yet rates have not changed.   

The reason is that investors still don't have a high level of confidence in mortgage bonds. The charts below show the 10 year T-Bill rates as well as the FNMA bond prices over the past 3 months. The first chart shows how T-Bill rates have significantly dropped over the past week. The 2nd chart shows the price of the FNMA 6% 30 year bonds. (Bond prices move inversely to the rates) As you can see, the FNMA Bond has stayed fairly flat.

Hopefully, as investors gain confidence in mortgage bonds, more people will buy them causing rates to drop.


Mike Russell
Mike Russell Real Estate Group - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Kansas Real Estate

gas at $1.59 today, I can live with that. I would love to see 5% mortgages again but I can understand the hesitnecy to buy mortgage backed securities.

Nov 21, 2008 06:29 AM
Matthew Naumann
Exit Realty Charleston Group - Goose Creek, SC
Goose Creek, SC Real Estate Agent

Katie,  thanks for some positive and optimistic news.  I know investors will be jumping into the bond market soon.

Nov 21, 2008 06:29 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

An interesting point of view.     With so much cash being printed, globally, I had thought we might see hyperinflation, as nothing seems to be backing the printing???

Nov 21, 2008 06:32 AM
Mark Watterson
Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Real Estate

The housing market lead us into this mess.  Hopefully one day it will lead us out and lower interest rate would help.

Nov 21, 2008 06:33 AM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

The main problem with deflation, though, is that there are various contracts and services already in place, and as prices fall, the economy can no longer support those contracts and services, resulting in them being canceled, resulting in unemployment numbers going up, resulting in more deflation, more canceled services, more unemployment, and on and on and on. It's a vicious cycle. Moderate growth is always best.

Nov 26, 2008 04:54 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

If the Gov. would just let things alone, people would get back into a routine again!

Nov 26, 2008 02:05 PM