Have you ever wondered if there was some secret force driving a majority of market movement? Trust those instincts. There really is one elephant in the room when it comes to market movement, and it’s not so secret! In fact, there are several sightings just this week.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
The Not So Secret Driving Force Behind Mortgage Rate Movement

You’ve seen forced confessions on various crime dramas over the years. In this drama, however, it’s financial markets that are forcing a confession out of the Fed.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Markets Forcibly Extract Fed's Message

While financial markets prepare to choose the direction of their next big move, housing and mortgage data are quickly getting very interesting.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Action-Packed Week For Housing and Mortgage Markets

Two separate holding patterns were in focus this week–one in housing-related economic data, and the other in broader financial markets. One of these holding patterns stands a good chance of being broken next week. The other is anyone’s guess.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
What Will It Take To Break Holding Pattern In Housing And Markets?

Interest rates have been fairly sideways recently, and that leads to speculation as to what might motivate them to move higher or lower. But in this case, speculation is totally unnecessary!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
A More Realistic View of Stocks, Oil, and Rates

The month of July saw rates bounce up from all-time lows immediately following a strong jobs report. Then we spent the 2nd half of the month waiting to see if rates would continue higher. Just when rates were calming down, the new jobs report is shaking things up.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Strong Jobs Data Complicates Rate Outlook

After last week’s disappointing construction numbers and rising rates, we could use some good news. This week provided!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Good News For Housing and Mortgage Rates

Several housing reports are out this week that increasingly paint a picture of construction lagging behind other housing metrics. Why are Existing Home Sales outshining Construction and should we be worried?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Should We Worry About Slower Construction?

Rates have enjoyed unprecedented stability near all-time lows following Brexit (UK’s vote to leave the EU) in late June. While mortgage rates are still reasonably close to those lows, other metrics suggest we may have already seen the big bounce.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Have We Already Seen The Big Bounce?

Following The UK’s vote to leave the EU, headlines have been awash with “all-time low rates.” While that’s abundantly true for benchmark rates like US Treasuries, mortgage rates aren’t quite there yet–nor have they moved lower at the same pace. What’s up with that?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
The Real Reasons Mortgage Rates Can't Keep Up