Showing posts with label low interest rates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low interest rates. Show all posts

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Home Refinancing At Lowest Rates

For several months now home loan interest rates have been cut in an effort to stave off inflation. US benchmark interest rates are at the lowest level since June 2004 after the Federal Reserve this morning cut its key interest rate from 1.5% to 1%.

Having cut the fed rate six times one would think the economy would make a come back but with the stock market crash only days ago the eonomic turnover for the better seems distant.

Still the constant cuts are good for those shopping low mortgage interest rates. At the lows just keep coming. San Francisco Federal Reserve President Janet Yellen said the Fed could lower rates below 1%, and that they could reach as low as zero amid a weak economy. If the Fed do cut rates to 1% this would be the lowest level since June 2004.

What effect did this low level cut have on the economy? Will this cut produce long term economic stability? Only time and a little hope will tell. Just remember it's been done before and not so long ago. And although it's a drastic move to fend off a serious downturn it is indeed a home buyers market and a home refinancing treasure trove.


Thursday, October 18, 2007

Fed Prime Drops 0.50%

The Fed Prime Rate drops 0.50%. That's a significant low. Meanwhile, following the release of the September 18th minutes of the Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, financial markets reassessed the likelihood of another rate cut at the upcoming October 31st meeting. The market currently is looking for about a 30 percent chance of a 25 basis point rate cut rather than the 50 percent chance that they had previously expected.

A HomeBuyers Market?
Homebuyers paid 7% or 8% during the mid- to late-'90s, and double-digit rates were the norm throughout the '80s and early '90s. Compare that to todays rates and the talk about rates cuts and it's easy to see why it may still be a homebuyers market.

Can homeowners still save when refinancing? Refinancing savings all depends on when you bought your home and what rates were at the time. Currently homeowners can realize a savings if refinancing rates are 30 or more base points lower that ones current rates.

30 Yr Fix 6.37% 0.03%
15 Yr Fix 6.03% 0.05%
1 Yr ARM 5.58% -0.07%
5/1 ARM 6.11% -0.10%
30 Yr Tres 4.87% 0.10%
Fed Prime 7.75% -0.50%

To find out how much loan you can afford use the refinance calculator at
http://refinanceloanrates.fimark.net