Mortage Rates Today Help Continued Gradual Healing of Housing Market

A recent report by Fannie Mae’s (FNMA/OTC) Economic & Strategic Research Group shows cautious optimism that the gradual recovery of the housing market will continue thanks to record low mortgage rates today and record low home affordability. With current mortgage rates on 30 year conforming loans just above 3.50 percent home buyers in many areas of the country are finding the monthly cost of owning a home is one again cheaper than renting.

Homeowners are also taking advantage of record low refinance rates today and refinancing to a lower rate loan. Just this past week the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that FHA refinance volume exploded to an all-time high. A recent lowering of FHA premiums on streamlined refinance home loans came into effect last week and borrowers jumped on the opportunity to refinance to a lower refinance rate without increasing their FHA premiums.

In Fannie Mae’s report cautious optimism that the housing market will continue to do well since home sales are up 8 percent year over year even with a low growing economy and all the negative economic news recently released.

Loan Term
Lender
APR / Rate
Fees / Points
Payment
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.045%
15-Year Fixed
4.875%
$4,523
Includes 0.857 points for $3,428
Lender Fees: $1,095
$3,138 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.056%
15-Year Fixed
4.875%
$4,870
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $1,370
$3,138 /mo
Tomo Mortgage, LLC.
NMLS #2059741
5.117%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$3,360
Includes 0.840 points for $3,360
Lender Fees: $0
$3,162 /mo
Bison State Bank
NMLS #757416
5.141%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$3,988
Includes 0.997 points for $3,988
Lender Fees: $0
$3,162 /mo
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
5.239%
15-Year Fixed
5.125%
$3,070
Includes 0.500 points for $2,000
Lender Fees: $1,070
$3,190 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
5.365%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,000
Includes 0.750 points for $3,000
Lender Fees: $0
$3,216 /mo
New American Funding, LLC.
NMLS #6606
5.392%
15-Year Fixed
5.240%
$3,992
Includes 0.998 points for $3,992
Lender Fees: $0
$3,214 /mo
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
5.394%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,835
Includes 0.682 points for $2,728
Lender Fees: $1,107
$3,216 /mo
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.466%
5-Year ARM
5.375%
$4,067
Includes 0.743 points for $2,972
Lender Fees: $1,095
$2,240 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
5.503%
15-Year Fixed
5.375%
$3,348
Includes 0.662 points for $2,648
Lender Fees: $700
$3,242 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.866%
5-Year ARM
5.750%
$5,146
Includes 0.944 points for $3,776
Lender Fees: $1,370
$2,335 /mo
Home Simply
NMLS #2473786
5.947%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,135
Includes 0.510 points for $2,040
Lender Fees: $1,095
$2,367 /mo
Bison State Bank
NMLS #757416
5.954%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,436
Includes 0.859 points for $3,436
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
Tomo Mortgage, LLC.
NMLS #2059741
5.955%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,476
Includes 0.869 points for $3,476
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
LifeStone Mortgage
NMLS #1085173
5.963%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$3,870
Includes 0.625 points for $2,500
Lender Fees: $1,370
$2,367 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
5.964%
5-Year ARM
5.875%
$3,876
Includes 0.969 points for $3,876
Lender Fees: $0
$2,367 /mo
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
5.990%
30-Year Fixed
5.875%
$5,070
Includes 1.000 points for $4,000
Lender Fees: $1,070
$2,367 /mo
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
6.094%
5-Year ARM
5.990%
$4,543
Includes 0.859 points for $3,436
Lender Fees: $1,107
$2,396 /mo
Different Mortgage
NMLS #324599
License: 324599
6.104%
5-Year ARM
5.990%
$5,006
Includes 0.984 points for $3,936
Lender Fees: $1,070
$2,396 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
6.200%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,196
Includes 0.624 points for $2,496
Lender Fees: $700
$2,431 /mo
Blue Sky Financial, LLC
NMLS #1954591
License: 60DBO-113383
6.207%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,567
Includes 0.615 points for $2,460
Lender Fees: $1,107
$2,431 /mo
Zoom Loans
NMLS #1312186
6.207%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,500
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $0
$2,431 /mo
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
NMLS #399799
6.213%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$3,900
Includes 0.643 points for $2,572
Lender Fees: $1,328
$2,431 /mo
New American Funding, LLC.
NMLS #6606
6.329%
30-Year Fixed
6.240%
$3,768
Includes 0.942 points for $3,768
Lender Fees: $0
$2,461 /mo
Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes and insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.

A housing recovery faces many headwinds, including high unemployment with slow employment growth expected for the next couple of years. A steady steam of foreclosed properties coming on the market which will keep a lid on home prices for the next several years.

Rising student loan debt with the possibility of interest rates doubling on federal student loans for 7.4 million college students. Thankfully congress appears to be closing in on a compromise with the Obama Administration which will prevent the interest rate from doubling come July.

Until unemployment comes down from over 8 percent and consumer sentiment increases the housing market will struggle. On a positive note the Federal Reserve is doing everything it can to drive mortgage rates lower to help housing recover from the worst bust since the depression of the 1930's.

 
Author: Brian McKay
June 25th, 2012

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