Mortgage rates forecast

Instability among foreign relations typically drags down long-term interest rates and the latest crisis with Iran could be a catalyst for a drop in 2020, according to NerdWallet.

If the first weekly Freddie Mac report of the year is any indication, there could be far less volatility for fixed mortgage rates in 2020 than there was in 2019.

Mortgage rates ended the week little changed from the previous seven-day period and near historic lows for the year, according to Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac reduced its origination forecast for 2020 to under $2 trillion, now projecting $184 billion less in refinance volume compared with its November outlook.

Mortgage rates ended the week unchanged from the previous seven-day period, according to Freddie Mac, although not without some gyrations from the results of the elections in the United Kingdom and U.S-China trade talks.

With housing projected to grow hand-in-hand with the economy, Fannie Mae boosted its single-family mortgage origination outlook for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Mortgage rates rose slightly with a stronger-than-expected jobs report starting the week and the Federal Open Market Committee decision to hold the line on short-term rates ending it, according to Freddie Mac.

More than half of the third quarter refinance activity was the cash-out variety, with borrowers removing the most total equity from their homes in nearly 12 years, according to Black Knight.

Mortgage rates remained unchanged this week, after moving back and forth during the period on economic and trade news, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates resumed their upward movement this week, but it's not putting a damper on real estate sales activity, noted Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates fell this week, reversing a gradual upward trend, to reach their lowest level in six weeks, according to Freddie Mac.

With economic expansion expected to keep churning through at least the first half of next year, Fannie Mae upwardly revised its single-family mortgage origination outlook for 2019 and 2020.

Mortgage rates rose modestly this week as investors have a more positive view of the economy and so they are moving money out of the bond market, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates fell for the first time in four weeks, although given investor optimism over better economic news, it might be a blip, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates rose for the third straight week — which hasn't happened since April — driven by investors' reaction to positive news regarding trade, according to Freddie Mac.

Economic uncertainty continued to affect mortgage rates, which rose to their highest level in 12 weeks, according to Freddie Mac.

Strong economic trends like an improved employment outlook and rising homebuilder sentiment helped to drive average mortgage rates up 12 basis points from a week ago, according to Freddie Mac.

Weaker-than-expected economic data led to a decline in mortgage rates this week, although consumer attitudes remain strong, and should continue to drive increased home purchase demand, according to Freddie Mac.

Real estate economists' outlook for single-family housing starts through 2021 weakened compared with six months ago even though they are relatively bullish on the economy, an Urban Land Institute survey found.

Economic issues were the biggest influence on average mortgage rates in the past week, although two trackers moved in different directions.