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The Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged today within its target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed also reiterated its plan to support the mortgage market to the tune of $1.5 trillion.

In its press release, the FOMC noted that the economy may still be contracting, but that it’s [...]

The Federal Reserve adjourns from its two-day meeting this afternoon. It’s one of 8 scheduled meetings each year for the Federal Open Market Committee.

Like all FOMC get-togethers, the purpose of the meeting is to discuss financial and economic conditions in the U.S., and to make new policy to stimulate or retard economic growth, when [...]

Monday, mortgage markets improved with news of new Swine Flu cases.

It’s a classic example of Safe Haven buying and today’s rate shoppers will see the benefits.

Mortgage rates improved about 0.125 percent Monday.

It’s not an official term, but “Safe Haven buying” describes the trading patterns in which large numbers of investors move money away [...]

Last week, like the 3 weeks prior, mortgage markets were all over the place from day-to-day.

But, also like the 3 weeks prior, when the week ended Friday, rates were right back where they started from Monday.

For the 4th straight week, mortgage rates started and ended the week essentially unchanged.

Whether or not this is [...]

The days of rock-bottom housing prices may be reaching an end.

According to the National Association of REALTORS, the number of Existing Home Sales fell by a modest 140,000 units last month. It’s the fifth straight month in which home sales straddled the 4.5 million mark.

The national housing inventory is down 900,000 from its July 2008 [...]

If falling home values is what prompted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to tighten mortgage guidelines in 2007 and 2008, America’s mortgage applicants may get their long-awaiting loosening within the next 18 months.

According to a government report, the values of homes financed with conforming mortgages rose for the third straight month in February.

This is an [...]

National real estate data helps economists identify trends in the housing market. It shapes policy and influences markets.

For active home buyers and home sellers, though, national real estate data is irrevelant. This is because national data says nothing for the factors determining home prices in any given zip code.

See, national real estate news [...]

The Federal Reserve meets next week for a policy-setting meeting.

It’s one of 8 scheduled Fed meetings this year in which the Federal Open Market Committee votes on whether to raise, lower, or leave unchanged the Fed Funds Rate.

Based on data compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Wall Street’s expectations of the [...]

For the third week in a row, mortgage markets improved early in the week, only to give back the gains before Friday’s close.

Mortgage rates ended last week exactly where they started. However, if you locked your mortgage rate Tuesday, you got a rate decidedly lower than someone who waited until Friday.

Last week, one of [...]

With respect to housing data, news is rarely positive or negative on a universal level. There’s always two perspectives to consider, after all.

The home buyer’s perspective
The home seller’s perspective

Usually, when data is beneficial to one group, it’s less beneficial to the other. This is true for rising home prices, average days on market and [...]