Today’s Mortgage Rate Summary

How Rates Move:

Conventional and Government (FHA and VA) lenders set their rates based on the pricing of Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) which are traded in real time, all day in the bond market. This means rates or loan fees (mortgage pricing) moves throughout the day, being affected by a variety of economic or political events. When MBS pricing goes up, mortgage rates or pricing generally goes down. When they fall, mortgage pricing goes up. Tracking these securities real-time is critical. For more information about the rate market, contact me directly. I’m among few mortgage professionals who have access to live trading screens during market hours.

Rates Currently Trending: Higher

Mortgage rates are trending higher this morning. Last week the MBS market improved by +47bps. This was enough to improve mortgage rates or fees. There was moderate volatility throughout most of the week.

Today’s Rate Forecast: Higher

Three Things: These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to move the needle on mortgage rates this week: 1) Political, 2) Domestic and 3) Geopolitical

1) Political: We will hear from the two most important figures when it comes to the economy. President Trump will have his State of the Union speech on Tuesday at 9 pm ET and Fed Chair Jerome Powell will speak Wednesday night at 7 pm at a town hall-style meeting in D.C.

2) Domestic: We have a very light week for economic data, but we do get one key report. ISM Services will get a lot of attention. Last Friday’s stronger than expected ISM Manufacturing report definitely pushed MBS pricing lower. But that report ONLY covers 1/3 of our economy. The other 2/3 is covered in this Tuesday’s ISM Services report.

3) Geopolitical: China markets are shutdown due to the Chinese New Year, so there won’t be any economic releases from them (weaker PMI data out of China helped your rates last week). Also, that means that we will not see much movement on the trade negotiations. The markets will continue to be very reactive to Brexit news as well as any progress in the next round of government shutdowns.

Treasury Auctions this Week:

02/05 3 year note

02/06 10 year note

02/07 30 year bond

Today’s Potential Rate Volatility: Average

This week we get the ISM Services report. This report has the ability to move rates and increase volatility. The other factor we’ll be keeping an eye on are movements in trade talks and other geopolitical events.

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for the risks and benefits of locking your interest rate in today, contact your mortgage professional to discuss it with them.