Rates Rise to Highest of 2018
April 19, 2018
Treasury yields rose ahead of the release of the Fed’s Beige Book and speeches from New York Fed President William Dudley and Fed Governor Randal Quarles. According to the Beige Book, economic activity in March and early April continued to expand at a moderate pace, however there is concern from various industries surrounding tariffs. Following Treasurys, mortgage rates soared. The U.S. weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose 5 basis points to 4.47 percent in this week’s survey, its highest level since January of 2014 and the largest weekly increase since February of this year.
It is important to note that the weekly rate we report is an average and the actual rate obtained by a borrower may be different. In our April Insight, we found that by shopping more than one mortgage lender, consumers are more likely to get a better interest rate and save money in both the short and long term. With lower monthly payments and lower fixed fees, the loan will be more affordable and thus safer, and consumers may keep hundreds or thousands of dollars more in their pocket.
Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following link for the Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.
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