Wednesday March 18Posted 4 p.m. EasternThe Federal Open Market Committee announced a substantial increase in the purchase program for mortgage-backed securities and debt issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the Fed announced they will buy up to $300 billion of longer-term Treasury securities.The Fed has increased the amount of mortgage-backed securities they will buy from $500 billion by the middle of the year, to as much as $1.25 trillion by year-end. Yowza! They also committed another $100 billion to purchases of Fannie/Freddie debt, bringing that tally to $200 billion. This will help the outlook for mortgage rates even more. Not only will this keep a lid on mortgage rates throughout the year, but the mere announcement of such may well produce a "honeymoon effect" and push rates lower in the coming days.OK, but what about jumbo-mortgage borrowers? This is where the Treasury purchases come into play. Pumping up to $300 billion into long-term Treasuries will help reduce the cost of debt -- barring a blowout in credit spreads -- for anything priced relative to long-term Treasuries. And that will help bring down jumbo-mortgage rates a bit as the purchases of Treasuries picks up steam. Let me be clear however -- this is not going to solve the problem in the jumbo-mortgage market, but it is some good news in the absence of benefit for most jumbo borrowers from the recent mortgage plans announced by the Obama administration. advertisementRelated Links:FOMC meeting ends todayReaders rant on housingPep talk or plan? Related Articles:Fed's bold movesFed keeps rates near zeroWhat the Fed said
Wednesday March 18Posted 4 p.m. Eastern
The Federal Open Market Committee announced a substantial increase in the purchase program for mortgage-backed securities and debt issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the Fed announced they will buy up to $300 billion of longer-term Treasury securities.
The Fed has increased the amount of mortgage-backed securities they will buy from $500 billion by the middle of the year, to as much as $1.25 trillion by year-end. Yowza! They also committed another $100 billion to purchases of Fannie/Freddie debt, bringing that tally to $200 billion. This will help the outlook for mortgage rates even more. Not only will this keep a lid on mortgage rates throughout the year, but the mere announcement of such may well produce a "honeymoon effect" and push rates lower in the coming days.
OK, but what about jumbo-mortgage borrowers? This is where the Treasury purchases come into play. Pumping up to $300 billion into long-term Treasuries will help reduce the cost of debt -- barring a blowout in credit spreads -- for anything priced relative to long-term Treasuries. And that will help bring down jumbo-mortgage rates a bit as the purchases of Treasuries picks up steam. Let me be clear however -- this is not going to solve the problem in the jumbo-mortgage market, but it is some good news in the absence of benefit for most jumbo borrowers from the recent mortgage plans announced by the Obama administration.