21Aug2008
Dan Green
Author
Dan Green
Filed Under
Rate Surveys

Bankrate.com Mortgage Trend Index (August 21, 2008)

Mortgage rates and markets change constantly. Stay 100% current by taking The Mortgage Reports by email each day. Click here to get free email alerts, or subscribe to the RSS feed in your browser.

Bankrate.com rate trend surveyI 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. I welcome personal emails about purchase or refinance plans.
  3. I twitter market updates a few times daily.  Follow me.

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

  • 29% of participants predict rates will increase
  • 21% of participants predict rates will decrease
  • 50% of participants predict rates will remain unchanged

I am predicting that rates will increase 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:

"As the risk premium of Fannie and Freddie's debt increases, mortgage rates follow."

What's risk premium, you ask?  It's the extra rate of return that Wall Street requires from a company because investors fear for their money.  The chart we showed earlier this week should clarify.

If government debt is considered guaranteed, you'll see, mortgage-backed debt is getting farther and farther away from guaranteed, day by day.

Dan Green
Author
Dan Green

About the Author

Dan Green (NMLS #227607) is an active loan officer with Waterstone Mortgage. Email Dan ator call 513-443-2020.

Bonus: Click to get a free, no-obligation rate quote. I love to work with my readers!