June 14, 2018

After declining for two straight weeks, mortgage rates reversed direction this week and rose to their second highest level this year. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed eight basis points to 4.62 percent, and the Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points.

The good news is that the impact of rising rates on consumer budgets will be smaller than past rate hike cycles. That is because a much smaller segment of mortgage loans in today’s market are pegged to short-term rate movements. The adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) share of outstanding loans is a lot smaller now – 8 percent versus 31 percent – than during the Fed’s last round of tightening between 2004 and 2006.

Mortgage rates dipped for the second consecutive week. Homebuyers have taken advantage of the recent moderation in rates, which led to a 4 percent increase in purchase applications last week. Although demand has remained steadfast against the backdrop of this year’s higher borrowing costs, it’s important to note that the growth rate of purchase loan balances has moderated so far this year – and particularly since March. This slowdown indicates that buyers are having difficulty stretching to keep up with the pace of home-price growth.

After climbing to their highest level in over seven years, mortgage rates fell over the past week. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 10 basis points to 4.56 percent. The decline was driven by recent trade and geopolitical issues, which led to a sudden decrease in long-term Treasury yields.