Rates Near 2-Month Lows; Trended Credit in New DU; Price Gains Unsustainable -Case-Shiller

Rates Near 2-Month Lows; Trended Credit in New DU; Price Gains Unsustainable -Case-Shiller

Mortgage Rates maintained their recent winning streak today, falling for the 5th straight day. The average lender is now offering the best rates in nearly 2 months. You'd have to go back early August or late July (depending on the lender) to see a better combination of rate and upfront cost. This brings up a caveat that has been important in the past few months. The outright range of rate movement has been exceptionally small! We talk about "rates" moving every day, but that's just convenient shorthand for "the combination of NOTE RATE and UPFRONT LENDER COSTS." Those upfront costs are sometimes referred to as "points," but that isn't a universal definition. Regardless of the label, this refers to whatever costs the lender is charging (or paying) at closing. These usually include things like