It’s no secret that late 2017 and early 2018 were anything but pleasant for fans of low rates. Average mortgage rates and Treasury yields shot higher at their fastest pace since the 2016 presidential election. Even after that spike, there are still plenty of reasons to fear they may continue higher, and that’s exactly why they could go lower.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Could The Top Already Be In For Rates?

This week’s most prevalent financial headlines focused on the risk of a global trade war as the White House took its first official steps toward raising tariffs on goods imported from China. Although the stock market seemed to care quite a bit, interest rates and housing data were relatively unfazed. Here’s why:
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Why Housing And Rates Are Mostly Ignoring Trade War Drama

It’s no great mystery that refinance activity slows to crawl any time rates are at long-term highs, but what about the purchase market? While there are some challenges (inventory, affordability, etc.), purchases aren’t simply ‘surviving’ the recent upturn in rates.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
It's All About The Purchase Market Right Now

Last week ended with rates at risk of shifting sideways after a decent recovery from multi-year highs. Not only did rates go sideways. They didn’t move at all!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
A Truly Uncanny Week For Mortgage Rates

There were two key considerations for financial markets this week: the first congressional testimony by new Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the announcement of new trade tariffs by the White House. Both caused volatility in the short term and raised questions for the future.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Market Reacts to Tariffs and New Fed Chair

Mortgage rates have been moving higher at the fastest pace in more than a year. Just this week, they hit their highest levels in more than 4 years. But they also did something else they haven’t done recently–something positive. Whether or not it’s positive enough to suggest a broader shift remains to be seen
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Have Rates Finally Found a Ceiling?

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?