Published Date 11/20/2023
According to a government report released on Tuesday, inflation is finally falling, and millions of homebuyers’ and home sellers’ fingers are crossed hoping mortgage rates might be close behind.
Claire Trapasso, reporter for Realtor.com, says, “For the past year and a half, the U.S. Federal Reserve has been hiking its short-term interest rates to combat inflation. This has helped to push up mortgage rates, which are separate from the Fed’s rates but have been moving in a similar direction.” She continues, “The Fed’s aggressive moves now appear to have been working. Inflation fell to 3.2% year over year in October, down from a 3.7% year-over-year increase in September, according to the consumer price index released on Tuesday.
The hopeful prediction is that this could lead to the Feds to eventually start cutting rates next year if inflation continues to fall, keeping mortgage rates flat or pushing them down a bit.
“Mortgage rates are plunging with the news of inflation calming,” National Association of Realtors® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. “The interest rate rises should be over, and the Fed will have to consider cutting interest rates seriously.”
While this all sounds good, inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% target. And while the Fed chose to keep rates steady at its last meeting, it hasn’t ruled out future interest rate hikes, according to Trapasso.
“The higher interest rates go, the greater fears are that the country could fall into a recession—something the Fed has been trying to avoid. Typically, the Fed lowers rates in times of economic turmoil to help to stimulate the economy,” she says.
“The Fed will continue to watch the economic data while having to make policy decisions in an economic environment unlike any we’ve ever seen,” Bright MLS Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant said in a statement. “A soft landing is still possible, but the road to getting there is definitely still filled with uncertainties.”
Realtor, TBWS
All information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.
NMLS: 3304
Sage Wholesale
200 SANDPOINTE AVE, 8th Floor, SANTA ANA CA 92707-5751
Company NMLS: 3304
Office: 949-681-5253
Cell: 818-793-6650
Email: Info@SageTPO.com
NMLS: 3304
Cell: 818-793-6650
4/26/2024
It’s the nightmare we think only happens in the movies. “We have to pack,” says ... view more
4/26/2024
Yesterday the release of the advance Q1 GDP sent rates up and MBS prices lower. ... view more
4/25/2024
The preliminary 1st QTR GDP was much lighter than expected, showing a QoQ increa... view more
4/24/2024
Ever notice how some of the most elegant clothing and beautiful home decor have ... view more
4/22/2024
Click the link; buy a sofa. Click on another; buy a pergola for your backyard...... view more
4/22/2024
These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this we... view more
4/19/2024
Cosmetically all the hard work had already been done for them. What they didn’t ... view more
4/19/2024
Israel retaliated against Iran last night. Tit for tat may have run its course..... view more
4/18/2024
Initial Weekly Jobless Claims remained very low at 212K versus estimates of 215K... view more
4/17/2024
You’ve seen them. Sometimes there is a grand entry with a sentry-like gate, a sh... view more