While it wasn’t quite the biggest surprise of 2020, the strength of the housing market was one of the best. The just-released numbers for December keep the good times rolling.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
More Stellar Housing Numbers. How Long Can They Last?

It was easy to get lulled into complacency by the second half of 2020 when it came to mortgage rates. Even as other indicators said rates should be rising, they continued on a calm journey to multiple record lows. 2021 has been very different so far!
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Refi Demand Surges as Mortgage Volatility Comes Roaring Back

While it might not seem like the sort of thing mortgage rates should care about, the senate run-off election in Georgia was by far and away this week’s most important event, sending rates quickly higher. Will this mark a big-picture shift away from record lows?
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Have We Seen The End of Record Low Rates?

It’s a busy time of year on a busier-than-normal year, so I’ll keep this short. Those interested in more detail can click through the links.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Mostly Charts And Quick Takes on Housing and Rates

Rates can seemingly do no wrong, but that won’t be the case forever, and we may already be seeing signs of a shift.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Time To Think About Mortgage Rate Complacency (Before It's Too Late)

Mortgage loans have a certain value to investors, and when those values change, so do the rates offered by mortgage lenders. This is basically a hard and fast rule. But it’s completely out the window right now. And that’s a good thing this week.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Mortgage Rate Rules Are Completely Out The Window

The National Association of Realtors’ Existing Home Sales report is the broadest measure of housing market activity. It just hit a 14-year record for the 3rd month in a row.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Biggest Housing Boom Since 2006 And The Truth About "All-Time Low" Rates

Rarely does the month of November offer so much activity for the housing and mortgage markets, but it always offers the chance for a year’s worth of home price gains to usher in higher conforming loan limits.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
New Loan Limits Soon; Refi Fee Confusion; and Rate Volatility

Heading into the presidential election, there were significant risks for mortgage rates and a wide range of potential outcomes. We knew there would be volatility either way, and we were right!
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Election Week Was a Win For Mortgage Rates

The 2016 election won’t soon be forgotten in the mortgage or bond markets. Many of the predictions were dead wrong when it came to how interest rates would react to a Trump victory, and the reason ended up being very simple in hindsight. Are there any parallels that can help us prepare for the coming week?
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
2016 Reminds Us How Completely Crazy Next Week Could Be For Rates