Jul 21 Average national 30-year mortgage rate hits 5.54% By Matt Ott, Associated Press Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates are ticking higher this week in a rapidly cooling housing market as the Federal Reserve gears up for what could be yet another bump to its benchmark interest rate. Continue reading
Oct 24 New home sales fell 0.7% in September By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The housing industry is combating a variety of factors that are holding back growth ranging from a shortage of construction workers to a lack of available land for new homes. Continue reading
Aug 21 U.S. home sales rose in July, aided by low mortgage rates By Josh Boak, Associated Press Cheaper borrowing costs have enabled sales to rise 0.6% from a year ago, ending 16 consecutive months of annual sales declines. Continue reading
Aug 16 Will millennials benefit from historically low mortgage rates? By Gretchen Frazee Lower interest rates can save money on monthly mortgage payments, but other financial hurdles could still keep millennials from becoming homeowners. Continue reading
Aug 08 U.S. long-term mortgage rates fall sharply By Associated Press U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell sharply this week, with the benchmark 30-year loan touching its lowest level since November 2016. Continue reading
Jan 23 Fewer homes affordable for middle-class buyers, analysis finds By Josh Boak, Associated Press In the past year, the availability of homes that a middle-class family could buy has declined in 86 percent of the largest metro areas, according to a Redfin analysis. Continue reading
Jan 04 What will happen to the economy in 2019? Watch these 7 factors By Gretchen Frazee, Maea Lenei Buhre The final jobs report of 2018 released Friday, boasting 312,000 jobs added in December, puts the U.S. economy on track for another relatively strong showing in 2019, with economists predicting a slowdown coming toward the end of the year. Continue reading
Nov 04 Economic Theory — And Jim Lehrer — in Song By Elizabeth Shell You know baby, in the years I've been your central banker We've done a lot of overnight repo lending And it's been good, it's been so good But the economic situation has gotten serious now And baby, one night just… Continue reading
Feb 18 What Causes Mortgage Rates to Rise and Fall? Question/Comment: What causes mortgage rates to rise and fall? Will the stimulus or the remaining TARP money have any affect on mortgage rates? I heard of an attempt to temporarily lower rates to four… Continue reading
Dec 06 Watch Economic Experts Weigh Bush’s Mortgage Rate Freeze Plan, Housing Crisis President Bush announced a deal with mortgage lenders to freeze interest rates on some subprime mortgages due to move sharply higher soon that he hopes would slow the rate of home foreclosures. Economic analysts assess the value of the proposal… Continue watching