What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 23, 2020

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on housing market conditions, sales of previously owned homes, and housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.

NAHB: Homebuilder Confidence Hits Record High in November

The National Association of Home Builders reported a fourth consecutive record high for builder confidence as November’s index reading of 90 exceeded October’s reading of 80. Any reading over 50 indicates that most home builders are confident about housing markets.

Moreover, component readings for the Housing Market Index also rose. Builder confidence in current market conditions rose six points to 96. Builder confidence in housing market conditions within the next six months rose one point to 89, and builder confidence in buyer traffic in new housing developments increased by three points to an index reading of 77. Readings of 50 or more for buyer traffic were rare until recent months. Factors driving builder confidence include high demand for homes and record low mortgage rates. High demand for single-family homes is rising due to relocation to suburbs and increased demand for larger homes.

 Housing Starts Increase as Building Permits Issued Hold Steady

For October, Commerce Department readings showed that housing starts rose to 1.530 million starts on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Analysts expected a pace of 1.490 million housing starts based on 1.459 million starts reported in September. 1.545 million building permits were issued in October, which matched September’s reading.

Mortgage Rates Hit Another Record Low; Jobless Claims Data Mixed

Freddie Mac reported new record low mortgage rates for the fourth consecutive week. Rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 12 basis points lower at 2.72 percent; rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.28 percent and were six basis points lower. Rates for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages dropped by 26 basis points to 2.85 percent on average. Discount points averaged 0.70 percent for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages and 0.60 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Points for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged 0.30 percent.

First-time jobless claims rose to 742,000 claims filed; analysts expected 710,000 claims filed based on the prior week’s reading of 711,000 initial jobless claims filed. Ongoing jobless claims fell to 6.37 million claims filed as compared to 680,000 continuing jobless claims filed in the prior week.

Lastly, October sales of previously-owned homes rose to 6.85 million sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis as compared to September’s reading of 6.80 million sales of previously-owned homes.

Today’s Mortgage Rates Nov, 24, Tue, 2020

Current Numbers for WA, OR, ID, and CO

Washington State mortgage rates hit 2.99% and 3.28% for conforming 30-year mortgages and 5/1 ARMs, and for jumbo loans, the numbers in the state are 2.94% and 2.800% for 30-year mortgages and 5/1 ARMs, respectively.

Mortgage rates In Oregon for conforming loan rates are 2.99% for 30-year mortgages and 2.94% for 5/1 ARMs. For jumbo loans, the numbers are 2.95% for 30-year mortgages and 2.800% for 5/1 ARMs.

Mortgage rates in Idaho for conforming loans for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages is 2.97%, and 2.38% for 5/1 ARMs, while for jumbo loans, the numbers for each loan type are 3.12% and 2.800%, respectively.

Mortgage Rates for Colorado for conforming loans for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages is 2.94% and 3.02% for 5/1 ARMs. For jumbo loans, the numbers for each loan type are 2.89% and 2.800%.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic reporting includes readings from Case-Shiller Indices on home prices; new home sales will also be released along with the University of Michigan’s report on consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.

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Ready to Apply For a Mortgage in WA, OR, CO, or ID?

Do you have questions about home loans? Are you ready to apply for a mortgage to buy a home? If so, Sammamish Mortgage can help. We are a local mortgage company from Bellevue, Washington, serving the entire state, as well as Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado. We offer many mortgage programs to buyers all over the Pacific Northwest and have been doing so since 1992. Contact us today with any questions you have about mortgages.