Thanks for visiting The Mortgage Reports. To stay absolutely current on mortgage markets and important guideline changes, be sure to take my free daily email alerts.

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

As a reminder:

1. The survey is for conforming loans only.
2. Send me email for personal purchase or refinance questions.
3. I twitter market updates a few times daily.  Get them on your mobile.

Anyway, on to the group's predictions for the next 30 days:

• 53% of participants predict rates will increase
• 29% of participants predict rates will decrease
• 18% of participants predict rates will remain unchanged

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:

"A strengthening U.S. dollar leads mortgage rates lower."

When the dollar gets stronger, mortgage bond repayments are worth more to the people that invest in them and that helps to drive down mortgage rates.  I've covered the dollar's relationship to mortgage rates a lot lately and last week I did it in pictures.

The one point worth remembering: mortgage markets are fickle and can change at a moment's notice. 

It's like running the Picket Fence -- you don't want to get caught watching the paint dry.  Therefore, subscribe to my short-burst market updates for real-time commentary piped right to your mobile phone.

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