As long as we’re talking about government shutdowns that last about 3 weeks, past precedent is highly informative, but the longer the current shutdown continues, the more we’ll be in uncharted territory. This is especially true for the housing market.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Does Housing Care About The Shutdown?

It was a long December for the stock market, which had its worst month since the financial crisis (in terms of % change). Meanwhile, interest rates had their best month since June 2016.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Is Everything Already Changing in 2019?

The 11th-hour volatility raises a few big questions about what’s on the horizon. Could rates continue to drop or was this just a temporary diversion? Will stocks regain much of the recently lost territory, or are we merely at the beginning of an even bigger crash?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Big Risks and Opportunities Heading Into The New Year

Last week we discussed the possibility of mortgage rates continuing to fall despite the near certainty of this week’s Fed rate hike. That’s exactly what happened, but it was the move in stocks that got the most attention–not a surprising result given the following chart.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
What's Up With Market Madness After Fed's Rate Hike?

Last week, we discussed a surprising spike in market volatility. Fortunately, one of the volatile moves involved interest rates dropping to their lowest levels since September. This week has been quite different.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
The Fed Will Hike, But Rates Could Keep Falling

Last week’s newsletter asked whether or not the highest interest rates behind us. At the time, this was a relatively new and bold assertion. Now, this week makes that assessment look tame by comparison.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Any Crazier

More than any other week in recent memory, investors began asking themselves if the high rates seen in October and early November marked the ceiling for this economic cycle.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Are The Highest Interest Rates Behind Us?

It wouldn’t be 2018 in the housing market if there wasn’t at least one report painting a gloomier picture. Thankfully, there was only one this time around!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Showing Some Signs of Stabilizing

The rapid rise in rates has been a big problem for the housing and mortgage markets this year. Just last week, some reports suggested rates were near 8 year highs. The same sources reported that rates were ‘unchanged’ this week.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Actually Fell to Recent Lows This Week

Are you mad? Whether you’re a housing/mortgage professional or simply a person who might like to buy/sell/refinance a house at some point in the near future, you have a right to be frustrated.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Who Gets The Blame For Higher Rates?