30-year fixed rates have dropped like a rock since late July:
ARM rates, while less rock-like, have also fallen steadily for over a month:
This bond-market exuberance can be ascribed to the fact that the Federal Reserve ended their long tightening campaign in early August. But can it last? Both the bond market and the Fed are banking on the idea that an economic slowdown will cause inflation—which is still rather high—to subside. However, many people (myself included) question whether things will play out that way.
Since the pause, and despite the questionable logic thereof, the Fed heads have been making the rounds to jawbone about their inflation-fighting credentials. Is it just more talk? You never know with these guys.
One thing I do take seriously, unlike Fed doublespeak, is the fact that Conference Board survey respondents expect a 5.5% rise in inflation over the next year. I believe that the Fed is much more concerned with inflation expectations than with actual inflation. If this is indeed the case, then that Conference Board number may portend of another hike if it doesn’t start falling posthaste.
For what it’s worth, Barry at The Big Picture (one of my favorite financial blogs) believes that the bond rally is looking long in the tooth.
As for how this all affects San Diego housing, I don’t think it’s very significant. Most San Diegans in recent years have used ARMs, and while ARM rates may be lower today than they were a month ago, they are still far higher than they were in 2004 and 2005. So while monthly-payment affordability may have gotten a recent shot in the arm (due to both lower rates and lower home prices), the mortgage reset problem is still with us.
I posted this comment
I posted this comment yesterday. It came from the yahoo bonds page. I think it reflects the sentiment of most bond traders.
“The market has been given a tame backbone boost by the tame inflation numbers, while the in-line initial jobless claims are little cause for drama. “The inflation numbers are a joke, they’re fudged, we all know that,” says a long time dealer, adding “we will all play along until it blows up, which it will,” but he points out, until the dollar starts “into a free fall, we won’t ” worry too much about the situation.”
I think we will see some significant movement after the holiday weekend. Volume is very light this time of year. The pros come back to work next week.
Dollar vs Loonie has been
Dollar vs Loonie has been ominous again since July 21. Check this out: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/fx/iexe0102.gif
Price controls, whether in
Price controls, whether in credit, or any other market place, always fail. Merchants don’t “get less expensive” when these ideas come around, they close. When payday lenders http://northenloans.ca/ close, consumers are left with dangerous/unregulated alternatives. For once, it would be nice to see a writer think a bit more about why payday lenders are licensed, regulated, and around. People need a licensed/regulated way to get short term cash in a bind.