Mortgage rates forecast

Mortgage rates remained unchanged this past week even with all of the upheaval in the bond markets that pushed long-term Treasury yields down, according to Freddie Mac.

The U.S. government bond market sounded alarms Wednesday as investors fleeing riskier assets drove the 30-year bond's yield to a record low and the 10-year yield fell below the two-year for the first time since 2007.

Mortgage-backed securities investors are looking to the specified pool market to counter higher prepayment speeds seen with loans purchased through the TBA window.

Mortgage rates tumbled to lows not seen since November 2016 as benchmark 10-year Treasury yields continue to decline due to investors' uncertainty over trade and the economy, according to Freddie Mac.

The U.S. government's trade war with China is pushing down yields on 10-year and 30-year Treasury notes.

Mortgage rates were unchanged from last week, but going forward, they are likely to decline following investors' reaction to the Federal Open Market Committee's July 31 short-term rate cut announcement.

Any growth in housing starts and home sales in the second half of 2019 will be muted by continuing inventory constraints and rising home prices, according to Freddie Mac.

From Jacksonville, Fla., to Seattle, here's a look at the 12 most favorable housing markets for homebuyer purchasing power, based on a combination of local wages, lower property values and mortgage rates.

When a recession occurs, it won't be because of the housing market, according to Zillow. Unlike 2008, 2020 forecasts a gradual slowdown in housing rather than an abrupt crash.

Bond market investors acted cautiously in the wake of next week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting and that likely resulted in mortgage rates moving lower this past week.

After three weeks of holding fairly steady, average mortgage rates ticked up this week, ironically due to investor optimism that the Federal Open Market Committee will cut short-term rates, according to Freddie Mac.

Fannie Mae increased its mortgage origination forecast as lower interest rates, driven by economic uncertainty, will lead to more refinance activity, but other factors will continue to hold back home purchases.

While mortgage rates remained unchanged this past week, further drops are possible as signs from the Federal Reserve point to a short-term rate cut at its next meeting.

While mortgage rate optimism kept consumer confidence about the home purchase market high in June, affordability worries pulled overall sentiment lower, a Fannie Mae survey said.

Mortgage rates ticked up slightly this week with opposing trends in the stock and bond markets fighting for dominance, according to Freddie Mac.

Average mortgage rates dropped for the seventh time in the last nine weeks following news from the Federal Reserve of a possible near-term rate cut, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to its lowest level since November 2016.

Mortgage rates remained stable as the 30-year fixed-rate loan settled in near 3.8% for the third straight week, according to Freddie Mac

With mortgage rates expected to continue their recent slides over the next 18 months, in tandem with slowed economic growth, loan originations should see a jump through 2020, according to Fannie Mae.

Mortgage rates remained unchanged as investors' concerns over U.S. foreign trade policy, which triggered the previous week's drop, were moderated, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since September 2017, with the 30-year down 17 basis points as worries over foreign trade policy continued to roil the markets, according to Freddie Mac.