Mortgage Rates on the Rise

On December 10, 2010, in Uncategorized, by admin

Today, Freddie Mac announced the average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage increased to 4.61% – the highest in 5 months.

But why are rates increasing?

The main determinant is the bond market – the market  where U.S. Treasury bonds are traded. The positive economics news as of recent sends investors pouring money into the stock market, reducing demand for bonds. This makes borrowing costs higher for a mortgage holder.