Refi Booms, Loan Limits, and Mortgage Rate Misdirection

'Tis the season for things to be something other than what they appear to be, apparently. Lenders are talking about new loan limits, but they haven't officially changed. News stories are saying rates went lower this week, but they're higher. And there's even talk of a big refi boom, but as you may h

Mortgage Rates Are 110% NOT Lower This Week

Because we created the industry's first daily mortgage rate index based on actual lender rate sheets without any subjective distortions, and because the longest-standing mortgage rate index in the U.S. is a once-a-week survey with plenty subjective distortions and some quirky methodology, we often f

Mortgage Rates Highest in More Than 2 Weeks

Mortgage rates hit their lowest levels in more than a year and a half last Tuesday as the bond market put the finishing touches on its preparation for the Fed announcement the following day.  Since then, rates have been drifting mostly higher with each passing day. As of this past Monday, the a

When Words Matter: New Realtor.com® Report Finds Key Phrases in For-Sale Listings Can Lead to Big Savings