August Mortgage Rates Starting to Hike…Mortgage Trend Last Couple Months

In July, the national average for the 30 year fixed mortgage at one point got as low as 5.25%. Please note, from my long experience in this industry, I’m not sure where the national average is derived because it’s always .125% or .25% higher than what most people in my market are seeing. None the less, I’m just using this as an illustration of how rates have moved upward in the recent months. Today, the national average is 5.47%. That is a full .25% higher than July’s best rates. Going back to May, rates were at 4.75%. So, from May to August 7th, rates have increased over a half a point, or more than .5%.
If this becomes the trend, like economic forecasters have said it would eventually this year leading into 2010, by January we could see rates hit the 7% mark. If you are waiting on buying a home, or have not checked out of your refinance “procrastinator’s anonymous class” yet, this would be the time. Take a look at this first chart on BankRate.com to see what it looks like in an image…for you brain type people that need pictures to subscribe to your long term memory.
On the positive side of this mortgage interest rate hike, I received my investment portfolio statement today and I made some money. Come on economy!