For the first time since early 2011, the average mortgage lender is quoting conventional 30yr fixed rates of 5.0%. This happened fairly quickly too, with 0.25% of the increase seen in the last 3 days of the week. What’s causing all this drama and is there any hope that it will subside?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Surged to 5% This Week. Is There Any Hope?

Interest rates are a hot topic right now, largely because they’re surging to the highest levels in years depending upon whom you ask and what type of rate you’re asking about. There is a lot of confusion and even some misinformation about exactly what rates are doing. Let’s clear that up.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Spike Ahead of Fed. Is There Any Good News?

Last week, we talked about the unintended consequences of a strong economy with respect to higher wage growth pushing interest rates quickly higher. This week, it was more of the same.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Paying Price For Sunny August

From a strictly economic standpoint, this week saw the release of several impressive reports. For stakeholders in the mortgage and housing markets, there are trade-offs.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Booming Economy's Unintended Victims

There are a few different ways to measure volatility in the bond market, but one of the simplest is via the average daily trading range. That particular metric is showing volatility in line with the lowest levels in decades.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rate Volatility Lowest in Decades; Is Housing a Factor?

Home sales numbers and other housing-related data have been hot topics of conversation recently. Some say positive housing trends are over. Others say it’s no big deal. The truth continues to be somewhere in between.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Latest Pros and Cons on Housing and Rates

There’s no question that some housing markets around the country are showing signs of cooling. Price reductions are starting to show up again after an extended absence, the average home is staying on the market a bit longer, and inventory is finally coming up from the lowest levels in decades.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Scary Low Housing Numbers? Not Exactly

Turkey is the 17th biggest economy in the world in terms of GDP. That’s neck and neck with the Netherlands, roughly 20% bigger than Saudi Arabia (the next closest country) and 4 times bigger than Greece. So the fact that Turkey is in the throes of a debt crisis is making news.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Let's Talk Turkey: Do US Markets Care?

News has been pretty grim recently for interest rates and the housing market. This week’s developments may provide a glimmer of hope.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Glimmers of Hope For Home Sales and Rates

Both New and Existing Home Sales came in lower than expected this week. Taken together with last week’s big drop in residential construction numbers, this raises obvious questions about the housing market. How much should you worry?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Putting Home Sales Slowdown in Perspective