Tag Archives: mortgage rates

Conforming Mortgage Limits Rise for 2017

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Housing Finance Authority, or FHFA, just announced it is increasing the limit for conforming mortgages from $417,000 to $424,100 in most regions of the United States starting Jan. 1, 2017—the first such increase since 2006. This … Continue reading →

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What Is the Future of Interest Rates?

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The deficit is moving to the back burner with Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in charge of Washington, and that is causing interest rates to rise quickly. Republicans leaders on Capitol Hill are now papering over divisions … Continue reading →

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Why Record Low Mortgages Rates?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage applications increased 7.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 8, 2016. It’s a result of mortgage rates dropping to … Continue reading →

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Fannie Mae, GSEs, Even More Important

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner With news that Fannie Mae, one of the GSEs now managed by the Federal Housing Finance Authority (and US Treasury) just showed a $1.1B profit in Q1, but must pass all of it profits to Treasury since … Continue reading →

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Record Mortgage Originations in 2015, In Spite of FHFA

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner In addition to very large Consumer credit borrowing that rose $17.2 billion in February (but excludes mortgage lending), the number of new first mortgages increased to a post-recession high in 2015, according to new data from credit … Continue reading →

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Record Low Rates Spur Consumer Debt, But Not Spending

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Consumer credit rose a very large $17.2 billion in February with January revised higher to $14.9 billion, says the Federal Reserve. Nonrevolving credit, which are gains for vehicle financing and student loans, rose $14.2 billion and revolving … Continue reading →

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Construction Boosted By Public Works, Offices

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of the $1.1T budget agreement, and $305 STIRR Surface Transportation and Highway Trust Fund bill. Construction spending rose a strong 1.5 percent in January due to a surge in highway & … Continue reading →

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2016 Housing Update

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner What should happen to U.S. housing in 2016, with interest rates at record lows and a healthy job market? Much will depend on population growth, and in particular the newest largest generation of all—the millennials, or Gen … Continue reading →

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Housing Creating More Jobs In 2016

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We see housing in 2016 continuing to grow the economy. This is mainly because new-home construction should surpass 1 million units again this year, and it is new-home construction (and sales), rather than existing-home sales that adds … Continue reading →

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Oct. Pending and New-Home Sales Still Rising

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Both new and existing-home sales are still thriving, given that conforming fixed rates are still at almost historic lows, in spite of a looming Fed interest rate hike. Why? It’s mainly investors worried about worldwide growth that … Continue reading →

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