The final two days of the present week weren’t on many bingo cards as of Wednesday afternoon. At the time, rates were jumping higher in response to inflation data and no one expected to end the week at the lowest levels in nearly 2 months.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
The Unlikely Story of Mortgage Rates Falling to 2 Month Lows Despite Higher Inflation

It would be more than fair to expect elevated market volatility based on the quantity and tone of recent news headlines. But the market remains more focused on the hard data.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Despite Apparent Volatility, Rates Have Been Surprisingly Calm

Spoiler alert: no one really knows how tariffs are going to impact the market yet. Much is left to be decided, and the outcomes can vary depending on the details.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Bonds Brace For Tariff Impact, Just Like Last Time

Can Trump Actually Force Rates to Move Lower? Yes, but not immediately, not the way
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Can Trump Actually Force Rates to Move Lower?

Last week’s big to-do was the jobs report, which sent rates sharply higher. This week’s inflation data had a chance to add fuel to that fire or put it out.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Rates Recover After Tame Inflation Data

Mortgage rates weren’t having a great week in the first place. As of Wednesday, the average lender was already up to the highest levels since June 2024. But up until that point, there hadn’t been too much volatility.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Highest Mortgage Rates in 7 Months After Upbeat Jobs Report

Even as most of the world has spent the past two days thinking or saying “I can’t believe it’s 2025 already,” mortgage rates won’t get back from vacation until next week.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Mortgage Rates' Holiday Break Ends With Next Week's Economic Data

“So long 2024. Don’t let the door hit ya!” Or… “another year closer to turning a longer-term corner in the housing market.” For better or worse, 2024 was a lot more like 2023 than most housing/mortgage pros were expecting.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Let's Try Something New For 2025

Last week’s newsletter closed with: “If anything on Fed day ends up having an impact on mortgage rates, it would have to be changes in the Fed’s rate outlook and/or comments from Fed Chair Powell during the press conference that follows the rate announcement.” There were certainly some changes!
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Once Again, Mortgage Rates Shoot Higher After a Fed Rate Cut

Back in September, we spent several weeks warning about the possibility that mortgage rates could rise even as people were waiting for the Fed to cut. This time around, the set-up is a bit different, but caveats remain.
Source: Kevin Litwicki MBSLIVE
Fed Will Cut Next Week, But They're Not Cutting Mortgage Rates