14Aug2008
Dan Green
Author
Dan Green
Filed Under
Rate Surveys

Bankrate.com Mortgage Trend Index (August 14, 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 emails from readers 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:

  • 38% of participants predict rates will increase
  • 31% of participants predict rates will decrease
  • 31% 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:

"New loan fees from Fannie and Freddie wipe out market gains. The 'middleman' fee takes its toll."

Remember: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stand between conforming borrowers and Wall Street so if the two firms want to generate some extra income, all they have to do is implement loan-based fees.

There have been four separate increases since December 2007.  We should expect more later this year.

Dan Green
Author
Dan Green

About the Author

Dan Green (NMLS #227607) is an active loan officer with Waterstone Mortgage. Email Dan ator click to get a free, no-obligation rate quote.

You can also find Dan on Twitter and Google+.