Rate Trend Index
By Bankrate.com

Will rates fall or remain relatively unchanged? Experts and Bankrate analysts provide their insights.  Alert me when the RTI is updated

This week (Jan. 31 - Feb. 6) the experts say: Hold onto your hat, and lock that rate -- maybe.

RTI: Jan. 31- Feb. 6 This week, almost six in 10 of the panelists believe mortgage rates will rise over the next 35 to 45 days. A quarter think rates will fall, and the rest believe rates will remain relatively unchanged (plus or minus 2 basis points). Panel: Up: 59% Down: 25% Unchanged: 16%   Graph the trend RTI archive

Experts' comments and Bankrate analysts Experts' comments Panel Bond prices have gotten ahead of themselves, and so have interest rates. I wouldn't be surprised to see a pop back up to the high 5s on the 30-year in the near term. Mike Larson, interest rate and real estate analyst, MoneyandMarkets.com, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. up The mortgage market will continue to improve as home sales continue to be soft. Jeff Lazerson, president, Mortgage Grader, Laguna Niguel, Calif. down The Fed once again lowered federal funds by another half a percent. Expect that mortgage rates will edge higher as Washington and the Fed are working to pump up the economy. All this will take its toll on inflation expectations and this should drive up mortgage rates. If you need to get a mortgage application in to your lender, do so now. Jim Sahnger, mortgage consultant, Palm Beach Financial Network, Stuart, Fla. up With the stimulus package being implemented, along with the federal funds rate being cut, long term rates will rise. However, there is still uncertainty, for long term forecasting, due to buyer psychology. Lock now, if it makes economical sense. Steven M. Levitt, vice president of mortgage lending, Guaranteed Rate, Chicago up We have seen Treasuries and conforming mortgage rates move up in the past week for technical reasons. It is my opinion, based on the techs, that in about four weeks we will hit what will be the low for the year on the 10-year yield and that conforming fixed rate mortgages will hit their bottom for 2008 at that time. This may well be one of those annoyingly brief dips. Loan officers and borrowers should start the paperwork now. Dick Lepre, senior loan officer, Residential Pacific Mortgage, San Francisco down Bankrate's analysts Panel Although economic growth is weak, the inflation concerns persist and that will keep a floor under mortgage rates. Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst, Bankrate.com unchanged Loose monetary and fiscal policy will send long-term rates higher. Holden Lewis, senior reporter, Bankrate.com up

About the Bankrate.com Rate Trend Index
Bankrate.com surveys experts in the banking and mortgage fields to see if they believe certificate of deposit and mortgage rates will rise, fall or remain relatively unchanged. For the deposit index, the panel comprises banks, thrifts and credit unions that directly offer FDIC-insured certificates of deposit to the end consumer. For the mortgage index, the panel comprises mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers and other industry experts who provide residential first mortgages to consumers. Results from Bankrate.com's CD Rate Trend Index will be released monthly. Results from Bankrate.com's Mortgage Rate Trend Index will be released each Thursday.