mortgage
Mortgage Rate Trend Index
Will rates rise or remain relatively unchanged? Experts and Bankrate analysts provide their insights.
This week (Aug. 20 - Aug. 26) the experts say: Rates won't change much. This week, almost half of the panelists believe mortgage rates will remain relatively unchanged (plus or minus 2 basis points) over the next 35 to 45 days. The rest are evenly split among those who think rates will go higher and those who believe rates will fall.
Industry experts and Bankrate commentary
| Experts' comments | Panel |
The techs are bullish but behaving in unruly fashion. Fundamentals are blah. There seems to be some possibility of a move to lower yields. If there is a dip if will be brief -- as usual. As some point later this year someone other than the Fed will have to start buying mortgage debt -- hopefully.
Dick Lepre, senior loan officer, Residential Pacific Mortgage - SF, San Francisco | 
unchanged |
Interest rates continue to trade in a very narrow range as a result of a tug of war between negative economic news and glimmers of hope in the economy. A continued struggling stock market and Fed purchases are keeping rates low for the time being. However, we mustn't get complacent here, as rates will certainly have room to increase once there are definitive signs that the economy is improving.
David Kuiper, mortgage planner, First Place Bank, Holland, Mich. |
unchanged |
Continued volatility day to day but overall rates should be relatively range-bound. With recent regulatory changes homebuyers should look to lock their rates earlier in the homebuying and mortgage application process to prevent from having to redisclose the annual percentage rate, or APR.
Jim Sahnger, mortgage consultant, Palm Beach Financial Network, Stuart, Fla. |
unchanged |
Mortgage rates can't break their range. It's been like this since May.
Dan Green, TheMortgageReports.com, Waterstone Mortgage, Cincinnati |
unchanged |
Most of the improvement in worldwide economic conditions is the direct result of government stimuli. The conditions for a robust recovery are simply just not there. Investors are starting to realize this and this should lead the stock market to sell off. As investors move away from stocks and into Treasuries their yields fall and mortgage rates drop.
Michael Becker, mortgage consultant, Green Pastures Mortgage & Finance, Lutherville, Md. | 
down |
Thirty to 45 days is a long time out to predict anything in this market. We anticipate the feds to cut rates again on the 29th, which typically will have a negative impact on mortgage rates. We will see some up and down activity in between leaving rates unchanged.
Steve Levitt, vice president of mortgage lending, Guaranteed Rate, Chicago | 
up |
There is no other alternative to save this country from a complete collapse of property values. The U.S. government is going to make the lenders drop their rates if they want more of the bank bailout money.
Jeff Lazerson, president, mortgage grader, Laguna Niguel, Calif. |
down |
| Bankrate's analysts | Panel |
A change in economic sentiment led to a downturn in mortgage rates that should last until Labor Day. Then, a slow rebound.
Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst, Bankrate.com, North Palm Beach, Fla. |
down |
In this week's rate survey, the 30-year fixed was about 5 1/2 percent, and I think the feds have been trying to keep it around 5 5/8 percent.
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.