I am a regular participant in the Bankrate.com Mortgage Rate Trend survey and this week's survey is now available.

I am predicting that rates will decrease over the next 30 days, but that doesn't mean you should necessarily follow my advice when choosing whether to lock a rate, or float it.  My advice may not be appropriate for your individual situation.

From the Bankrate.com survey:

"The three leading news stories this week are: 1) high gas prices, 2) bombings in India and 3) North Korea and Iran disarmament plans. All three events place downward pressure on mortgage interest rates. After three weeks of being pushed to the back burner, geopolitics is back in vogue, and mortgage rates will drop as a result."

Bankrate.com asks for my opinions a few days in advance of publishing, so it's worth noting that in the past 24 hours, Israel has been under attack, oil prices have reached all-time highs, and India has been bombed.  Trifecta.

If you are currently on the fence about locking and the idea of floating makes you nervous, I'd say that you go ahead and lock in.  There is just too much financial risk in floating -- especially given the volatile nature of mortgage interest rates. 

Dan Green is an active loan officer. Email or call 513-443-2020. Dan is on Twitter at @mortgagereports.