by Jacob Lilley | Aug 16, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
This week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released application numbers that confirm what almost anyone in the mortgage industry could have already told you (if they could find the time and energy!) A new refi boom is underway. The refi numbers are all the... by Jacob Lilley | Aug 9, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
Market volatility has been fairly intense over the past week and a half with trade war drama taking the spotlight away from the Fed and economic data. The following chart shows the Fed announcement last Wednesday being trumped by Trump’s tariff tweets on... by Jacob Lilley | Aug 2, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
On the morning after this week’s Fed rate cut, mortgage rates were roughly unchanged versus the previous morning. This will come as a surprise to scores of consumers who mistakenly believe the Fed’s 0.25% rate cut equates to a 0.25% drop in ALL rates. The... by Jacob Lilley | Jul 26, 2019 | Blog, Home Buying, Home Selling, Mortgage Rates
Negative housing-related headlines are on the rise. Here are a few recent examples: Foreign purchases of American homes plunge 36% as Chinese buyers flee the market Another bad sign for the housing market Housing is providing another in a line of troubling signs... by Jacob Lilley | Jul 19, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
This week’s most prevalent housing market headlines were quick to mention the abrupt drop in Building Permits to the lowest levels in 2 years. Other headlines pointed out that it was the quickest move lower in more than 2 years. Both statements are true. So... by Jacob Lilley | Jul 12, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
Too frequently, media coverage suggests a Fed rate cut would coincide with lower mortgage rates and vice versa. But in practice it can be just the opposite! Let’s take a look at what the Fed is actually about to cut and how it might impact rates. The Fed Funds... by Jacob Lilley | Jul 8, 2019 | Blog, Home Buying
Are you finally ready to stop renting and buy a home in Bozeman? You’ve been renting for a while, but now you’ve settled into your life. Have you been working for the same great company and moving up the ranks since high school? Did you put that awesome idea into... by Jacob Lilley | Jul 5, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
Interest rates have been on a tear. They’ve fallen faster and farther than at any other time in the past 8 years. By some measures, they’ve managed to maintain positive momentum for as long as they ever do. This naturally begs the question: is it time for... by Jacob Lilley | Jun 28, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
Interest rates are low! Just how low depends on the rate in question. For instance, longer-term rates like those for fixed-rate mortgages and 10yr US Treasuries are as low as they’ve been since November 2016. Shorter-term rates are another story. 2yr... by Jacob Lilley | Jun 21, 2019 | Blog, Mortgage Rates
This week’s policy announcement from the Federal Reserve (aka “The Fed”) was hotly anticipated. In the past month and a half, traders have rapidly upped their bets on multiple Fed rate cuts in 2019 as trade tensions flared. Softer economic data only...
