This week was chock full of housing data ranging from construction and builder sentiment to the most recent tally on existing home sales. The takeaways can vary depending on your angle of approach. So let’s take a look at all the angles!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
2 Very Different Ways to Look at Housing Numbers

As expected, the Fed raised rates this week. Mortgage rates and 10yr Treasury yields (which aren’t directly tied to the Fed Funds Rate) actually moved lower for the rest of the week. How did that happen and what might it mean for the bigger picture?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Hikes. Rates Fall. Have We Hit a Ceiling?

The Federal Reserve meets 8 times a year to set its policy rate: The Fed Funds Rate. At next week’s meeting, a “rate hike” is a foregone conclusion. And that’s precisely why it doesn’t matter.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Next Week's Fed Rate Hike Won't Affect Rates

Italian political drama already had an impressive impact on US interest rates by the end of last week. This week brought more surprises and even bigger reactions for better and worse (and in that order).
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
How Italy Rocked Rates And What To Watch For Next

It was a complex week in the world of mortgage rates and housing markets. Such complexity often creates inconsistent news coverage. At best, most of the coverage fell short. At worst, some of it was downright wrong. Let’s clear things up!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Don't Be Fooled By Fake News on Rates and Housing

This week’s key story was the big spike in interest rates. Is it something that deserves our attention? Certainly! That’s why we give rising rates plenty of attention week after week. That having been said, is it the end of the world for the housing market? Certainly not.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Higher Rates Deserve Attention, Not Panic

The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal dominated the news this week. This will arguably impact rates, albeit in a subtle, roundabout way. The housing market won’t care much, but it’s not without its own challenges.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Can Survive Higher Rates

One short week after witnessing a return of interest rate volatility, it disappeared again this week. Sure, there were some small-scale ups and downs throughout the week, but in the bigger picture, investors are wrestling with bigger decisions.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Too Soon to Think About The Next Recession?

Last week marked an abrupt end to the gentle, sideways-to-slightly-lower trend in interest rates that had been intact since late February. This week, things got worse.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Interest Rate Volatility Comes Roaring Back

2018 began with a massive spike in interest rates. It was the proverbial big bad wolf for housing markets and for financial markets in general, or so we’re told. Refreshingly, the wolf was on vacation in March, but now he’s back, huffing and puffing.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Market Not Very Scared of Big Bad Wolf