The average 30yr fixed mortgage rate has now spiked by more than half a point since the beginning of the year on a combination of inflation fears, central bank policy and fiscal policy. But with all those headwinds, is this just the beginning of something even worse? And what would that mean for housing?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Why The Housing Market Can Survive Inflation Fears and Rising Rates

An abrupt stock market sell-off dominated the week’s financial news. It was the kind of move that gets everyone talking (and speculating, and worrying, and explaining). In those conversations and in the news, certain concepts have garnered broad agreement. Unfortunately, just because something is often repeated, it’s not necessarily true.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Let's Get Real About Interest Rates and The Stock Crash

So far this year, interest rates (including mortgages) have spiked at the quickest pace since the US presidential election. They’re currently at levels not seen since early 2014. It was all anyone in financial news could talk about this week, but some of that conversation should be taken with a grain of salt.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Everyone's Talking About Rates, But Not For All The Right Reasons

Seemingly overnight, financial markets are abuzz over fluctuations in the dollar. We’ll dig into whether or not some of the claims are justified, but first, let’s dig into this week’s home sales data.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Inventory About to Come Back; Dollar Killing Rates?

Mortgage rates moved higher at their fastest pace since last June this week, and to levels not seen since last March! Underlying bond markets are in big trouble as well with 10yr Treasury yields breaking above 2.64%.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Big Trouble For Rates–Nothing to do With Government Shutdown

Financial markets have a lot of information to digest before deciding what effect that information will have on trading levels. This week provided some insights on sorting fact from fiction.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
At 6-Month Highs, Rates Sort Fact From Fiction

It was a light week for housing-related economic data and financial markets aren’t quite yet back in the full swing of things following the holidays. But there has been plenty of discussion around plenty of campfires regarding certain aspects of the tax bill.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Clearing Up Some Mortgage-Related Tax Bill Confusion

There were several interesting developments with relevance to the housing market last week. Rather than let important information fall by the wayside amid the holiday season, this week’s newsletter will largely be a reprint of last week’s.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Revisiting Stellar Home Sales and Tax Bill's Effect on Housing

The tax bill that has been at the center of discussion for the Housing Market was officially signed into law this week. In the days leading up to that, both New and Existing Home Sales surged to post-crisis records. Can the new tax policies coexist with a strong housing market?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Home Sales Just Crushed Forecasts. Will Taxes Change The Tune?

The Federal Reserve (or “The Fed”) hiked rates this week, but mortgage rates fell. Believe it or not, this actually doesn’t violate the rules of the universe.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Hikes Rates. Rates Fall. Here's How That Works