Tag Archives: FOMC

The Federal Reserve has voted to keep its key interest rate unchanged. But things may look a little different come 2018 . . .

The FOMC has been talking about normalization for months now. Looking forward, they could start the process soon, and that will have consequences . . .

Janet Yellen sat in the hot seat in front of the Senate Thursday, completing the second half of her semi-annual testimony. What recommendations did she give the committee, and did they fall in line with recent calls by politicians in the CHOICE act?

The Fed has voted for the second time this year to raise interest rates, a decision that was hinted at back in March by Janet Yellen, FOMC Board of Governors Chair. The FOMC is of the opinion that waiting too long to scale back accommodations could potentially cause a rapid increase in rates, which could disrupt the market and send the economy into another recession. It is currently unclear how the hike in interest rates will affect mortgage rates.

Federal Open Market Committee is set to finish its June meeting on Wednesday and it is widely expected that they will raise interest rates in order to keep the economy stabilized, even though inflation remains around 2 percent. In May, when they last met, members of the board chose to keep interest rates at their current level. Will this mean anything for mortgage interest rates? One expert believes it might not impact the mortgage market at all.

Mortgage rates remained fairly steady this week, even as the Financial Open Market Committee met to discuss potential hikes in the federal funds rate. These low rates may not stay for long, however. Reports found that the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has stayed flat, but experts noted that the Fed's "half-full" economic outlook may mean rates will rise again at some point this year.

Despite sluggish economic growth in Q1 and the widely held assumption that the Fed would raise rates at least two more times this year, the Federal Open Market Committee opted to keep the federal funds rate as is at its May meeting. Raised in March, the rate currently sits at 1 percent. The Committee cited job gains and lower unemployment as factors in its decision.

On Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will hold its monthly meeting—and in anticipation mortgage rates for both 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate loans, as well as 5/1 ARMS, dropped. While market watchers do not anticipate policy changes to come out of this month’s meeting, in light of last month’s interest rate hike it seems as if that is not enough to ebb the pre-meeting caution the market is experiencing. Though interest rates may not rise this month, the Fed has forecasted four hikes this year.

Poor growth in the economy in the first three months of 2017, coupled Federal Open Market Committee’s March meeting minutes just released to spur a drop in mortgage rates. Thirty-year fixed mortgages and 15-year FRM both showed lower rates this week and a steady decline during the first three months of the year. This marks the third consecutive week of reductions.

Positive outlook for the housing industry was presented by Federal Open Market Committee, with statements that gradual rate increases are probable in the future.