March 12, 2014: Mortgage markets changing today’s mortgage rates

Current Mortgage Rates Up-To-The-Minute

Today’s mortgage rates  are lower.

Weaker than expected Retail Sales data lifted MBS this morning. February Retail Sales declined 0.6%, far below the consensus for an increase of 0.3%. Retail Sales ex-auto declined 0.1%, well below the consensus for an increase of 0.5%. Bad weather may have been a bigger than expected factor. Separately, weekly Jobless Claims fell to 289K, below the consensus of 310K. February Import Prices rose 0.4%, which was a little higher than expected.

Despite how mortgage rates are doing today so far, note that rates can change at anytime, and often without advance notice. In a calm mortgage market, rates may change once or twice daily. In a volatile mortgage market, rates can change five times daily or more.

When mortgage rates change, mortgage lenders honor rates which have been previously locked. Unlocked rates are rarely honored. To protect your long-term mortgage rate, lock a lender’s price before rates start to move again.

About Today’s Mortgage Rates Analysis

Today’s mortgage rate analysis is based on live mortgage-backed securities (MBS) pricing provided by MBSQuoteline. a real-time mortgage market data service available to loan officers, real estate agents, and other finance professionals.

The MBS data supplied by MBSQuoteline is the same market data used to formulate current mortgage rates by the nation’s mortgage lenders.

The chart at top depicts today’s Fannie Mae mortgage bond pricing. Fannie Mae bonds are linked to conventional mortgage rates which include mortgage rates for programs such as the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP 2.0 ), the HomePath mortgage program, and others.

MBS prices are inversely related to today’s mortgage rates.

The chart does not depict the path of today’s Ginnie Mae mortgage bonds, although Ginnie Mae bonds and Fannie Mae bonds tend to move in similar directions.

Ginnie Mae mortgage bonds are linked to today’s mortgage rates for FHA loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration; VA loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and USDA loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

When mortgage bond prices rise, U.S. mortgage rates tend to fall. Conversely, when mortgage bond prices fall, U.S. mortgage rates tend to rise. In general, a twenty-five basis point change in MBS pricing — up or down — leads to a 0.125 percentage point change in mortgage rates.

Get A Complimentary Mortgage Rate Quote

Mortgage rates change all day, every day. The mortgage rates you get from your bank now won’t be the same rates you get from your bank in an hour. Be smart when you shop. Compare multiple lenders and get your best deal.

Get a complimentary mortgage rate quote now. Rate quotes are available at no cost, with no obligation to proceed, and with no social security number required to get started.

The information contained on The Mortgage Reports website is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement for products offered by Full Beaker. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the policy or position of Full Beaker, its officers, parent, or affiliates.