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26th November, 25
Holiday Week Volatility With Zero Consequence
Holiday Week Volatility With Zero Consequence Although there was a brief negative reaction to this morning's economic data, the impact was minimal. Random holiday-week volatility accounted for bigger swings, but those swings ultimately canceled each other out. By the 3pm close, bonds were close enough to unchanged levels. That makes today truly forgettable in the bigger picture. Trading doesn't get real/serious again until December. NOTE: Friday is technically open until 2pm ET, but as is our custom, we will only publish commentary on an "as-needed" basis (i.e. if the movement is minimal
Holiday Week Volatility With Zero Consequence
Holiday Week Volatility With Zero Consequence Although there was a brief negative reaction to this morning's economic data, the impact was minimal. Random holiday-week volatility accounted for bigger swings, but those swings ultimately canceled each other out. By the 3pm close, bonds were close enough to unchanged levels. That makes today truly forgettable in the bigger picture. Trading doesn't get real/serious again until December. NOTE: Friday is technically open until 2pm ET, but as is our custom, we will only publish commentary on an "as-needed" basis (i.e. if the movement is minimal
26th November, 25
Mortgage Rates Slightly Higher, But Remain Near Long-Term Lows
Wednesday was far less eventful than the first two days of the week as far as mortgage rates were concerned. The average lender raised rates just a hair, but apart from yesterday, these are the lowest levels in a month and very close to the lowest levels in more than 3 years. Bond markets and mortgage lenders will be closed tomorrow for Thanksgiving. While Friday is technically open, 9 times out of 10, it may as well not be. In other words, the Friday after Thanksgiving rarely sees any meaningful movement in mortgage rates or the underlying bond market.
Mortgage Rates Slightly Higher, But Remain Near Long-Term Lows
Wednesday was far less eventful than the first two days of the week as far as mortgage rates were concerned. The average lender raised rates just a hair, but apart from yesterday, these are the lowest levels in a month and very close to the lowest levels in more than 3 years. Bond markets and mortgage lenders will be closed tomorrow for Thanksgiving. While Friday is technically open, 9 times out of 10, it may as well not be. In other words, the Friday after Thanksgiving rarely sees any meaningful movement in mortgage rates or the underlying bond market.
26th November, 25
Credit Union Compliance, HELOC Products; Conventional Conforming Loan Limits and Other Fannie/Freddie News
The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here! Oh, wait a minute. The new conventional conforming loan limits are here! The new conventional conforming loan limits are here! True, lenders that are entirely focused on non-Agency products like non-QM (without many of the loan level price adjustments or gfees) may not care too much, but for most, Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s changes are followed closely. For 2026 we’re up from 2025’s $806,500 to $832,750. This beats the $819,000 by about $13k that many lenders and investors moved to in late September/early October. They can
Credit Union Compliance, HELOC Products; Conventional Conforming Loan Limits and Other Fannie/Freddie News
The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here! Oh, wait a minute. The new conventional conforming loan limits are here! The new conventional conforming loan limits are here! True, lenders that are entirely focused on non-Agency products like non-QM (without many of the loan level price adjustments or gfees) may not care too much, but for most, Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s changes are followed closely. For 2026 we’re up from 2025’s $806,500 to $832,750. This beats the $819,000 by about $13k that many lenders and investors moved to in late September/early October. They can
26th November, 25
Stronger Data. Weaker Start For Bonds
Bonds were just slightly weaker overnight but are losing more ground in early trading. The culprit: both of this morning's 8:30am ET economic releases. Jobless Claims data is probably the bigger deal as it continues to show no signs of labor market distress (216k vs 225k f'cast). The other report, Durable Goods, is more stale (pre-shutdown), but was also clearly upbeat with the core cap-ex figure coming in at a robust 0.9% vs 0.2% f'cast. The resulting sell-off in bonds is minimal but not massive. 10yr yields are up only 2.5bps at 4.021 and MBS are down less than an eighth.
Stronger Data. Weaker Start For Bonds
Bonds were just slightly weaker overnight but are losing more ground in early trading. The culprit: both of this morning's 8:30am ET economic releases. Jobless Claims data is probably the bigger deal as it continues to show no signs of labor market distress (216k vs 225k f'cast). The other report, Durable Goods, is more stale (pre-shutdown), but was also clearly upbeat with the core cap-ex figure coming in at a robust 0.9% vs 0.2% f'cast. The resulting sell-off in bonds is minimal but not massive. 10yr yields are up only 2.5bps at 4.021 and MBS are down less than an eighth.
25th November, 25
Best Closing Levels in Nearly a Month
Best Closing Levels in Nearly a Month Bonds improved only moderately on Tuesday in a move that's just as easily chalked up to random holiday-week volatility as any of the day's data/events. If we're determined to give credit to particulars, we can cite things like the 13.5k decline in weekly ADP payrolls, or the market's favorable reaction to rumors that Kevin Hassett is the front-runner to be the next Fed Chair (Hasset is assumed to be extremely dovish). Most notably, bonds took no damage from another day of upward momentum in stock prices. Yields closed out with 10s right at 4.0%--the
Best Closing Levels in Nearly a Month
Best Closing Levels in Nearly a Month Bonds improved only moderately on Tuesday in a move that's just as easily chalked up to random holiday-week volatility as any of the day's data/events. If we're determined to give credit to particulars, we can cite things like the 13.5k decline in weekly ADP payrolls, or the market's favorable reaction to rumors that Kevin Hassett is the front-runner to be the next Fed Chair (Hasset is assumed to be extremely dovish). Most notably, bonds took no damage from another day of upward momentum in stock prices. Yields closed out with 10s right at 4.0%--the
25th November, 25
Lowest Mortgage Rates Since 10/28 And Very Close to 3-Year Lows
Mortgage rates moved nicely lower on Tuesday with the average lender very close to the 2025 lows seen in late October. These levels are effectively right in line with the lowest since late 2022. If today's drop seems abrupt, that's because it is. In fact, it's a bigger drop than the underlying bond market justifies. There's a reason for this and we covered it in detail back in September: Why Rates Seem to Drop More Quickly as They Approach Certain Thresholds. Rather than credit any of the recent underlying events, the improvement in rates/bonds has more to do with idiosyncratic trading
Lowest Mortgage Rates Since 10/28 And Very Close to 3-Year Lows
Mortgage rates moved nicely lower on Tuesday with the average lender very close to the 2025 lows seen in late October. These levels are effectively right in line with the lowest since late 2022. If today's drop seems abrupt, that's because it is. In fact, it's a bigger drop than the underlying bond market justifies. There's a reason for this and we covered it in detail back in September: Why Rates Seem to Drop More Quickly as They Approach Certain Thresholds. Rather than credit any of the recent underlying events, the improvement in rates/bonds has more to do with idiosyncratic trading
25th November, 25
Conforming Loan Limit Rises to $832,750 Amid Lowest Home Price Growth Since 2012
Both the FHFA and the S&P/Cotality Case-Shiller home-price indices released new data this week. The message remains consistent: home prices are still higher than a year ago, but the pace of appreciation continues to slow. FHFA’s national index shows prices up 1.7% year-over-year and flat 0.0% month-over-month in September after August was revised to 0.0%. The stagnation in monthly movement reflects a clear deceleration taking hold across most regions. The Case-Shiller 20-City Composite posted a 1.4% annual gain in September, down from 1.6% in the previous month. On a seasonally adjusted
Conforming Loan Limit Rises to $832,750 Amid Lowest Home Price Growth Since 2012
Both the FHFA and the S&P/Cotality Case-Shiller home-price indices released new data this week. The message remains consistent: home prices are still higher than a year ago, but the pace of appreciation continues to slow. FHFA’s national index shows prices up 1.7% year-over-year and flat 0.0% month-over-month in September after August was revised to 0.0%. The stagnation in monthly movement reflects a clear deceleration taking hold across most regions. The Case-Shiller 20-City Composite posted a 1.4% annual gain in September, down from 1.6% in the previous month. On a seasonally adjusted
25th November, 25
Compliance, Broker Products; MBA on Credit Costs; LO Strategy for Aging Buyers; Pulte and Grand Jury
Want better affordability? Lower house prices certainly helps, and this article states that more than half of homes in the United States have fallen in price in the last year. Forget interest rates: Certainly, there are fewer willing buyers when they know ahead of time that they may face increasing insurance, tax, or condo fees. (Lenders are doing what they can to control costs, and a recent STRATMOR piece is titled, “Rates Drop, Pipelines Pop: Don’t Let Fulfillment Flop.”) The strain is being seen and felt. CNBC reports that foreclosures rose in October signaling some type of distress
Compliance, Broker Products; MBA on Credit Costs; LO Strategy for Aging Buyers; Pulte and Grand Jury
Want better affordability? Lower house prices certainly helps, and this article states that more than half of homes in the United States have fallen in price in the last year. Forget interest rates: Certainly, there are fewer willing buyers when they know ahead of time that they may face increasing insurance, tax, or condo fees. (Lenders are doing what they can to control costs, and a recent STRATMOR piece is titled, “Rates Drop, Pipelines Pop: Don’t Let Fulfillment Flop.”) The strain is being seen and felt. CNBC reports that foreclosures rose in October signaling some type of distress
25th November, 25
10yr Flirting With 4.0%, But Not Because of Data
ADP's weekly employment report showed another contraction at -13.5k, but unlike last week, no one seems to care. We also got the delayed release of Retail Sales with a notably weak -0.1 vs 0.3 control group, and backlogged PPI that was just a hair cooler than expected. There too, zero bond market reaction. Thanksgiving week trading vibes are in full effect. Fortunately, the trading that immediately preceded the data was moderately stronger, leaving MBS to start the day up nearly an eighth of a point and 10yr yields down nearly 2bps at 4.011. Before the day is done, we'll get the home
10yr Flirting With 4.0%, But Not Because of Data
ADP's weekly employment report showed another contraction at -13.5k, but unlike last week, no one seems to care. We also got the delayed release of Retail Sales with a notably weak -0.1 vs 0.3 control group, and backlogged PPI that was just a hair cooler than expected. There too, zero bond market reaction. Thanksgiving week trading vibes are in full effect. Fortunately, the trading that immediately preceded the data was moderately stronger, leaving MBS to start the day up nearly an eighth of a point and 10yr yields down nearly 2bps at 4.011. Before the day is done, we'll get the home
24th November, 25
Lowest Yields in Almost 4 Weeks Despite Ongoing Stock Market Recovery
Lowest Yields in Almost 4 Weeks Despite Ongoing Stock Market Recovery There's no question that stock prices and bond yields have had more than the normal amount of correlation recently. While that created some risk of a bond market weakness in the event of a stock market correction, those fears are proving unfounded over the past 2 trading days. Granted, stocks haven't surged, but they did move back to the highest levels in a week on Monday. But bonds didn't follow. In fact, after a microscopically stronger start, yields continued to fall gradually throughout the session, ultimately closing at
Lowest Yields in Almost 4 Weeks Despite Ongoing Stock Market Recovery
Lowest Yields in Almost 4 Weeks Despite Ongoing Stock Market Recovery There's no question that stock prices and bond yields have had more than the normal amount of correlation recently. While that created some risk of a bond market weakness in the event of a stock market correction, those fears are proving unfounded over the past 2 trading days. Granted, stocks haven't surged, but they did move back to the highest levels in a week on Monday. But bonds didn't follow. In fact, after a microscopically stronger start, yields continued to fall gradually throughout the session, ultimately closing at