Home Loans by Sean Young

Colorado Home Loans | NMLS: 191647

  • Contact
    • Contact Sean
    • About New American Funding
    • About Sean
  • Loan Programs
    • FHA Home Loans
      • FHA Home Loans
    • VA Home Loans
      • VA Funding Fee Table
      • VA Home Loans
    • 3% Down Payment with No Mortgage Insurance
    • HARP 2.0
    • Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus
  • Testimonials
  • Apply Now
  • Blog
  • Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus
  • RealtorĀ® Resources
    • Agent Mastermind Webinars
  • Mortgage Info
    • Mortgage Calculator
    • Closing Costs
    • Document Checklist
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Interest Rates
    • Loan Process
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 21, 2020

December 21, 2020 by Sean Young

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - December 21, 2020Last week’s scheduled economic reporting included readings from the National Association of Home Builders and a statement from the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.

NAHB: Builder Confidence Falls In December

Homebuilder confidence in market conditions for single-family dropped by four points in December to an index reading of 86.  December’s reading was the second-highest on record after November’s reading. Component readings of the Housing Market Index also dropped. Builder confidence in current market conditions fell to 92 as confidence in single-family home sales within the next six months fell to an index reading of 85. Homebuilder confidence in buyer traffic in new single-family developments dropped to 73; buyer traffic readings rarely exceeded 50 until recent months.

Regional Housing Market Index readings were also lower than in November. The Northeast, Midwest, and South reported readings three points lower than in November. The Western region’s reading dipped by two points month-over-month.

Fed Holds Key Rate Steady

The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve announced no change to the current federal funds rate range of 0.00 to 0.25 percent. Citing severe economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the FOMC statement indicated that economic forecasts would be subject to the course of the virus and related impacts on public health, the economy, and labor markets.

The Committee stated its monetary policy would be flexible in response to the pandemic and the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of achieving maximum employment and an inflation rate of two percent. The inflation rate has fallen short of the Fed’s objective of two percent; FOMC members amended the inflation rate goal to two percent or higher to compensate for the impact of repeated readings under the two percent mandate.

Mortgage Rates Hit Record Low; Jobless Claims Mixed

Freddie Mac reported new record lows for average mortgage rates last week. Rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged four basis points lower at 2.67 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.21 percent and were five basis points lower. The average rate for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages was unchanged at 2.79 percent. Discount points averaged 0.70 percent for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, 0.60 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, and 0.30 percent for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages.

New jobless claims rose to 885,000 first-time claims filed as compared to 862,000 new claims filed the prior week. 5.51 million ongoing jobless claims were filed; last week’s reading was lower than the prior week’s reading of 5.78 ongoing jobless claims filed.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic news includes readings on sales of new and previously-owned homes, inflation, and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.

Sean Young

Sean Young

Sean Young is a Mortgage Loan Officer in the great State of Colorado for the last 21 years, a nationally recognized real estate blogger who loves teaching Social Media, Real Estate Technology, and Continuing Education classes. Sean provides weekly Real Estate Agent Power tips and Tuesday Webinars that give the latest marketing strategies and tips on how to grow, build and increase your visibility, credibility, and brand as a Real Estate Agent. Looking for a Home Loan? Sean and his team can provide you with the expertise, professionalism, and customer service that will ensure that your transaction goes smoothly.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: COVID19, Financial Report, Jobless Claims

Sean Young Loan Officer
Click Here
to Apply Now →

Get a Rate Quote →

Five Star Mortgage Professional
VAREP

Connect with Me!

Find Out Where Mortgage Rates Are Headed

Loan Program of the Month

Visit Sean's profile on Pinterest.
Sean Young

Browse Articles by Category

Search for a specific subject

Recent Articles

  • Many Buyers Are Willing To Go Over Their Budget For The Perfect Home
  • What Do You Need To Know About Buying And Selling A Home During The COVID-19 Pandemic?
  • How Low Can They Go: With Mortgage Interest Rates Low, Should You Refinance?
  • Should I Shorten My Mortgage Term, Important Factors To Consider
Equal Housing LendingNMLS Consumer Access


DORA

Our Location


5299 DTC Blvd Suite 300
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Copyright © 2021 · Powered by MySMARTblog