What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 14th, 2025

Last week’s inflation reports, both the CPI and PPI, came in significantly cooler than expected. However, this must be viewed in the context of the administration’s recent tariff policies. Rather than signaling a healthy reduction in inflation, the data points to signs of deflation—which can be just as damaging to the economy as high inflation. While the FOMC Minutes offered little insight regarding interest rate changes, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has made it clear that no action will be taken until more data becomes available. Finally, the latest consumer sentiment report dropped to its lowest level in three years,…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 7th, 2025

The previous week has seen tremendous impacts with the Trump administration's recently revealed tariff policies, sparking widespread concern about their broad economic effects. These concerns have already led to rapid contractions in multiple markets. Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, has stated he is very uncertain about any moves made by the Federal Reserve and wants to wait for additional information before making decisions. Uncertainty is at an all-time high, without much relief—even in light of positive data from previous months. Without any clear direction, there is growing speculation that inflation will only increase from here. Meanwhile, employment data…
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Understanding the Role of the Federal Reserve in Mortgage Rates

When you're thinking about buying a home, you may hear a lot about mortgage rates going up or down. But have you ever wondered what causes these changes? One of the biggest influences on mortgage rates is the Federal Reserve, often called "the Fed." While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates directly, its policies play a major role in how much you’ll pay for your home loan. Let’s break it down in simple terms: What is the Federal Reserve?The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States. Its main job is to keep the economy stable by managing…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 31st, 2025

With the introduction of tariffs on Tuesday, there is significant uncertainty across all sectors regarding the potential outcome. While important data releases—including the PCE Index, Personal Income & Spending, and Consumer Sentiment for the quarter—have taken place, their impact is expected to be largely overshadowed by apprehension surrounding the widespread tariff decisions. With the upcoming release of inflation reports, including the CPI and PPI this week, all eyes will be on these two key metrics. The focus remains on tariffs and their impact on the markets, as well as inflation, which is likely to be influenced by the new tariff…
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The Difference Between FICO Score and Credit Score: How It Affects Your Mortgage and Rates

When applying for a mortgage, your creditworthiness plays a significant role in determining your loan approval and interest rates. Two commonly referenced terms are FICO score and credit score, which are often used interchangeably but have distinct differences. 1. What is a Credit Score? A credit score is a broad term that refers to a numerical representation of a consumer's credit risk. It is calculated based on various scoring models, including FICO and VantageScore, and is derived from credit report data such as payment history, credit utilization, and length of credit history. 2. What is a FICO Score? A FICO…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 24th, 2025

The previous week had the Federal Reserve making their first rate decision since the Trump administration had taken office. With many uncertainties about the current direction of things, the Federal Reserve had decided there would not be any change necessary to the current rates. Stating that the current inflation and economic conditions have largely been a result of the Trump administration’s policies on tariffs. Chairman Powell has been strongly dovish at this point, stating they would need to “see how things actually work out.” There were a slew of other minor data releases but none were far reaching in their…
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