Mortgage Rates Are Rising — What Now?
Mortgage rates increased sharply for the second straight week and are flirting with 3.5% for the first time since March 2020, according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). But the sharp rise in rates doesn’t necessarily signal the end of the pandemic era homebuying frenzy – nor should it. An understanding of what’s causing rates to rise and a sense of what’s coming next may help homebuyers plan their next moves. Why are rising mortgage interest rates today in USA? The short answer: investors are reacting to policy changes at the Federal Reserve and creating market conditions for higher mortgage rates. Here’s the long answer: In addition to your personal borrower profile (credit score, debt-to-income (DTI), down payment, etc.), mortgage rates are set by supply and demand on the secondary mortgage market, where investors buy and sell bundled-mortgages much like stocks. These mortgage bundles, known as mortgage-backed securities (MBS), are considered safe investments...