When the Federal Reserve Board raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a point in mid-March, the consensus prediction was that mortgage rates would rise as well.
Instead, the interest rate on the popular 30-year mortgage last week fell for the fourth week in a row. It was 4.08 percent last week, Freddie Mac data showed, the lowest rate for this calendar year.
The Fed’s decision to raise its benchmark rate affects the price banks have to pay to borrow from one another. The decline in interest rates illustrates the importance to the housing market of the 10-year Treasury bond, whose ups and downs more closely prompt changes in mortgage interest rates.
Whereas the Fed’s decision to raise rates was regarded as a vote of confidence in the U.S. economy, the decline in the yield of the 10-year Treasury bond reflects an increased appetite for safety among investors.
The U.S.-backed Treasury note is viewed as among the safest investments in the world. In the face of recent international uncertainty, investors have ratcheted up their demand for these instruments. The higher demand has sent the interest rate, or yield, on these bonds lower, as the government doesn’t have to offer as attractive an interest rate to snag investors’ money.
In November, the rate on 10-year Treasury notes went from 1.77 percent before the election to 2.3%, an increase of a magnitude that had occurred only three times in the last decade. That rise was a reaction to projections about how the new president’s policies might affect the economy.
A few months after the inauguration, though, it’s clear that those policies might not be implemented as quickly or as easily as some imagined.
The 10-year Treasury yield is about 2.23 percent, Realtor Mag notes. It was about 2.62 percent a month ago.
The declining mortgage rates are a welcome development to potential home buyers. Lower rates translate to greater buying power — a point of interest in all markets, but especially one as robust as Bend’s.
If you’re in the market to buy a home, I can put you in touch with a lender who will prepare a package that’s right for you. If you already have financing — or if you’re considering putting your home on the market — I can also help ensure an optimal outcome. I will bring my knowledge of the Bend market to bear for your benefit. To learn more about how I can assist you, contact me at (541) 383-1426, or visit Bend Property Search to connect with me through my website.