Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Mortgage Rates Tick Up

Mortgage rates tick back up a bit this week. I was expecting a slight drop in rates due to the 10Y yield falling. However, it seems that in the past 2 days the yield did recover, and I'm sure with margins so thin, lenders can't afford to give back gains.

Mortgage Rates for Single-Family Homes

On the mortgage activity front, applications decline again. However, the decline was largely due to another significant drop in refinancing activity.

U.S. mortgage applications fell for a third straight week, dragged down by a decline in home refinancings to a 16-month low even as interest rates dipped, an industry trade group figures showed on Wednesday.

Mortgage applications decrease: MBA

The group's seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications dropped 6.3 percent to 1,484.3 compared with 1,584.1 in the previous week. The index fell for a sixth straight week, and volume was at its lowest level since the week ended June 25, 2004 when the index reached 1,386.9.

The purchase index however, did increase a bit.

The MBA's seasonally adjusted purchase mortgage index rose 0.8 percent to 476.2 from the previous week's 472.3. The index is considered a timely gauge on U.S. home sales.

Caveat Emptor,
Grim

11 Comments:

Blogger Metroplexual said...

Grim,

I can tell you something else. I am shopping around my pile of money to put in a highyielding cd instead of ING. Wouldn't you know the 1 years over the last 2 weeks have been inching up. FYI all matress stufers or holders of fdic limit, endangered accounts CD's will probably go up even further. On another blog (bubble Bursting?)there was a statement that the next fed meeting will see a 50 basis point rise instead of 25 or zero. The latest housing #'s are the reason.

BTW Flushing Savings (Iknow it sounds funny. Like what you would be doing buying a house right now.) has a 5% apy 12 month CD, just FYI

Yet another BTW, I am involved in the GOV side of development and in NW jersey there has been a noticable slump in Subdivision Apps. It is usually an indicator of where the developers really see thing going.

11/30/2005 05:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Big squeeze is on. Higher short term rates squeezing the moroons who signed up for monthly debt slavery.
It's all a ponzi. An economy built on monthly payments. Ever see a company with flat or delcining cashflow with big debt serviing cost. Meltdown.

11/30/2005 06:53:00 PM  
Blogger grim said...

I'm holding most of my money in laddered 3 month CDs right now (through various lenders). Actually, a local NJ bank, Hudson City Savings Bank, has a promo going, a 4mo 4% CD, not bad for a local bank (non internet).

Looking at the bankrate.com CD rate calculator, the online banks have some very nice looking short term CDs, Indymac has got 4.26% on a 3mo..

grim

11/30/2005 07:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I use HCSB. Love this bank. I keep a high yeld checking acct (3.05 IR) to save money in and roll eveything above the minimum balance (20k) into 4 month CDs (Currently 3.92 IR / 4 APR)every 4 months. Their internet banking is free and pretty complete for checking your accounts as well (Sorry about the pun).

One of their branches is also very conveniently close to me. Initially I chose this bank because of its higher yeild interest than most banks (They were giving 0.99 to everyone else's .5) and its proximity. I learned that HCSB gave some of the best yeilds in NJ for a branch bank soon after and stuck with them for everything. Their mortgage rates aren't bad either..

11/30/2005 07:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

FYI, Emigrant Direct has 4% APY with no minimums.

http://emigrantdirect.com/

11/30/2005 08:52:00 PM  
Blogger grim said...

Just about every piece of economic news today, Q3 GDP, Chain Deflator, Chicago PMI, and Fed Beige Book point to further rate increases down the pike.

3 more rate hikes look as likely as ever now.

grim

11/30/2005 09:09:00 PM  
Blogger grim said...

Well, we'll see if others were swayed by higher savings rates a little later this morning. Personal Spending, Income, and Savings data to be released at 8:30. The savings rate has been negative for a few months now, not a positive trend at all. For those that don't understand the concept, it means Americans are not saving a penny, but are instead, dipping into their savings to cover expenses every month.

grim

12/01/2005 06:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

First time heard Emigrant Direct here. Their APY is so attractive. Are they good? How is the service? Thanks.

12/02/2005 11:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi!

Since the day, I found you, my life has improved dramatically!!
great work, Thank you a million!!

Thanks,
ways to make money online

3/25/2006 03:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been following a site now for almost 2 years and I have found it to be both reliable and profitable. They post daily and their stock trades have been beating
the indexes easily.

Take a look at Wallstreetwinnersonline.com

RickJ

4/18/2006 10:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a arizona financing home mobile site.
Come and check it out if you get time :-)
Greetings.

7/08/2006 08:13:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home