We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.
How We Make Money.
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for .
Editorial Integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How We Make Money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
This week (March 5 – March 11) the experts say: Rates probably will stay about the same.
This week, a plurality of the panelists believe mortgage rates will remain relatively unchanged (plus or minus 2 basis points) over the next 35 to 45 days. Equal numbers of voters (31 percent each) predicted rates will rise and rates will fall.
Consumers are running away from their stock losses and into the safety of cash. All of this liquidity will help banks to lend more money at lower rates. Jeff Lazerson, president, Mortgage Grader, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
down
I see rates moving lower as most technical signs point in that direction. However, there are so many unprecedented factors at play that many moves defy technical factors and volatility is highly prevalent. Don’t be greedy waiting for the lowest rate. Capitalize on the dips and lock in when you can. Chris Sipe, senior mortgage consultant, Mason Dixon Funding, Frederick, Md.
down
Lock ’em if you got ’em! Rates are low, and I don’t see any reason why they would go lower in the face of all that they are trying to digest (much of which is complete uncertainty). The risk of rates going up far outweighs the rewards of rates going down. Jeff Lazerson, president, Mortgage Grader, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
up
I believe that rates will remain consistent, although there is risk for them to move higher. Economically, things are and will remain difficult, which normally pushes rates down. However, the continued supply of paper from Washington should become increasingly difficult to swallow. The Fed will look to offset some of the pressure to keep rates range bound. Bottom line: Lock now and don’t worry about it. Jim Sahnger, mortgage consultant, Palm Beach Financial Network, Stuart, Fla.
unchanged
Interest rates continue to trade in a very narrow range and face a stiff ceiling of resistance. If Friday’s unemployment numbers come out with more bad news, we could see a bit of a rally in mortgage-backed securities with a slight improvement to interest rates. The big wild card right now is how lenders will implement the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. David Kuiper, mortgage planner, First Place Bank, Holland, Mich.
unchanged
The U.S. is established as the best of the world’s worst economies. As the U.S. dollar gains, mortgage rates fall. Dan Green, mortgage planner, Mobium Mortgage, author of TheMortgageReports.com, Cincinnati
down
This week the Fed is concentrating on TALF which is apparently leaving less room to create money to buy FNMA debt. I have been theorizing for weeks that mortgage rates will go where the Fed drives them but the Fed has more on its plate that mortgage debt. Dick Lepre, senior loan officer, Residential Pacific Mortgage, San Francisco
unchanged
Although the 10-year is at 3 percent this morning, which is up 34 basis points from 2 weeks ago, we should see some relief in rates soon. The inflation component has been decreasing for the last few weeks while the real rate has increased. The housing stimulus information started coming out today and that should spur some refinancing. We are still waiting for the Fed to dip into the mortgage security market as buyer to keep rates from rising any further. Mitch Ohlbaum, president, Legend Mortgage, Los Angeles
down
Bankrate’s analysts
Panel
Mortgage rates will reflect the concern about sizable government borrowing. Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst, Bankrate.com
up
The feds want to put mortgage rates in a straitjacket. Holden Lewis, senior reporter, Bankrate.com
unchanged
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.
Share