While the week played host to several developments worthy of the market’s attention, the notion of a European ‘taper tantrum’ was the driving force behind the year’s biggest spike in mortgage rates.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
What's Behind The Year's Biggest Spike in Mortgage Rates?

It was a fraught week for rates and housing, with plenty of movement in financial markets and plenty of contradictions in economic data.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Is Rate Recovery Enough To Keep Housing Healthy?

It was a busy week, both in terms of housing-related data and market developments. While the Fed Announcement has helped rates recover somewhat from their recent move higher, we’re left to wonder if the housing market is shifting into a lower gear.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Helps Rates Recover But Inventory Holds Housing Back

Following last week’s announcement from the European Central Bank, the tone in rates markets has shifted. This time around, it’s less about the fear of a potential Fed hike and more about the risk that central banks won’t be able to keep longer term rates low forever.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Most Serious Move Higher For Rates in Over a Year

Have you ever wondered if there was some secret force driving a majority of market movement? Trust those instincts. There really is one elephant in the room when it comes to market movement, and it’s not so secret! In fact, there are several sightings just this week.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
The Not So Secret Driving Force Behind Mortgage Rate Movement

You’ve seen forced confessions on various crime dramas over the years. In this drama, however, it’s financial markets that are forcing a confession out of the Fed.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Markets Forcibly Extract Fed's Message

While financial markets prepare to choose the direction of their next big move, housing and mortgage data are quickly getting very interesting.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Action-Packed Week For Housing and Mortgage Markets

Two separate holding patterns were in focus this week–one in housing-related economic data, and the other in broader financial markets. One of these holding patterns stands a good chance of being broken next week. The other is anyone’s guess.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
What Will It Take To Break Holding Pattern In Housing And Markets?

Interest rates have been fairly sideways recently, and that leads to speculation as to what might motivate them to move higher or lower. But in this case, speculation is totally unnecessary!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
A More Realistic View of Stocks, Oil, and Rates

The month of July saw rates bounce up from all-time lows immediately following a strong jobs report. Then we spent the 2nd half of the month waiting to see if rates would continue higher. Just when rates were calming down, the new jobs report is shaking things up.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Strong Jobs Data Complicates Rate Outlook