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Essay On Mortgage Rate

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If you're not a financial professional, it may seem like mortgage rates are pretty much arbitrary. One day, they're sitting stable at 3.75%. A month later, they could be 4.375%. Since these rate fluctuations can cost you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage, these rate changes can be extremely frustrating for home buyers. That's why it's a good idea to understand the driving forces behind your mortgage rate. It will help you understand when it's a good idea to lock in a rate, or at the very least, help you make sense of your investment. One of the most important factors in determining your mortgage rate is the 10 year bond yield. Simply put, 10 year treasury bonds are financial products offered by the government that offer a low rate of return. This low rate of return is offset by the security of the investment. Investors make very little money on 10 year bonds, but their money is extremely safe. …show more content…

As a result, bond rates tend to rise in order to create demand for them. Conversely, when investors are afraid of indicators in the financial sector, they turn to safer investments like bonds. The rate of return on these bonds drops in parallel with the increased demand for them. Mortgage-backed securities are investments packaged by financial institutions for the secondary mortgage market. Investors are able to pay for shares in a bundle of mortgages, and they receive a yield when the mortgages are repaid. These investments tend to be used in a similar fashion as the 10 year treasury bond, and their rates move in tandem. Basically, if the 10 year bond is dropping, mortgage rates tend to do so as well--and vice versa. However, the bond rate isn't the only determining factor on your mortgage rate. The housing market itself has a great deal of influence on it as well. This impact is also the result of supply and

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