Next week’s Fed announcement is a hot topic. Market metrics and surveys of economists suggest ever-increasing odds of a rate hike. As such, it may come as a surprise to learn that a rate hike is pointless in terms of its impact on financial markets, but there’s a catch.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Rate Hike Next Week is Pointless!

Both for the housing market and interest rates, this week stood in stark contrast to the previous week. Whereas rates had been at the lower edge of their recent range, they’re now near the top. Whereas last week’s housing reports showed great promise, this week’s may raise serious doubts.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Implications of Fed's March Rate Hike

Given an ongoing plateau in home sales figures in 2015-2016, many housing economists thought the late 2016 rate spike would cement a slow-down for the housing market. Although purchase apps definitely took a hit at first, sales metrics have come roaring back.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Housing Market Resilience Defying The Odds

It used to be that higher inflation meant higher rates, period. That changed abruptly beginning in 2011. The combination of global financial panic and unconventional monetary policy helped rates plummet even as inflation recovered from its post-meltdown lows. The longstanding correlation seemed to have broken, but it’s beginning to look like it has merely been dormant.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Inflation is Just One of Rates' Multiple Personalities

The US presidential election and the ensuing shift in tone on the part of the Federal Reserve were certainly game-changers for financial markets in the short term. But now that the dust is settling from the initial reaction, markets are looking like they’re not entirely sure where they want to go from here. Are they confused, scared, or just waiting?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Are Markets Confused, Scared, or Just Waiting?

By some standards, the past 3 months already adds up to a dire outcome for mortgage rates. This week’s Fed announcement and jobs report helped avoid a more dire outcome, but we’re definitely not out of the woods yet.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Fed Statement Helps Rates Avoid More Dire Outcome

Although the first three weeks of the year weren’t inconsequential, investors were understandably eager to react to Trump’s first week in office. One of the most notable developments was a break higher for stock prices after weeks of stagnation. This had the unfortunate effect of pushing bond yields (aka “rates”) even higher.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rising Rates, Higher Prices, and Record Low Inventories

What a difference a week makes–especially for certain borrowers in the process of obtaining an FHA loan. Not only will they see the same rising rates that affected all loans this week, but they’ll also no longer benefit from the recently-announced cut in FHA mortgage-insurance premiums.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
One-Two Punch: FHA Cut Reversed; Rates Move Higher

It was a big week for mortgage markets and an active week for rate movement. Most of it was good. Some of it was ominous. And one development was downright confusing.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Big Week: Mortgage Insurance Cut, Carson Confirmation, Rate Volatility

As the new year gets underway, news stories about the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting the 20,000 level are hard to miss. Given that stocks spiked in concert with rates following the election, it’s fair to wonder how moves in the stock market might affect rates and housing.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Does "Dow 20k" Matter For Rates/Housing?