In recent posts we’ve discussed the current interest state of mortgage rates on the US housing market as a whole and where those rates might be expected to go in the coming months. But the topic bears revisiting since mortgage rates are tied to a number of constantly changing factors, including the value of US Treasury bonds and the movements of economies elsewhere in the world. Now, as mortgage experts are making new predictions about the direction of mortgage rates in 2013 and beyond, attention also turns to the role large lenders can play in establishing the rate a borrower actually receives.
The virtually unprecedented current low rates are well known. It’s a good time to invest, buy a home, or refinance existing properties because, it’s said, rates will only go up. But because the Federal Reserve continues to buy up mortgage-backed securities at an astounding rate of billions of dollars per month, many expect rates to stay artificially low. On the other hand, these securities are backed by US Treasury bonds, whose performance in the global market also affects rates, and changes on that level can also affect whether mortgage rates start to swing upward.
But according to a 2012 DealBook article, there’s another factor that may play a role in determining not just where mortgage rates are currently holding in the market, but also what rate a bank or other lender actually offers a borrower applying for the loan.
Most major lenders, including banks and the government backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, don’t hold mortgages for long. Those mortgages are sold into the bond market, which ensures a government backed guarantee of repayment. The difference between the bond and mortgage rates represents the lender’s profit on the transaction – the bigger the “spread” between the two, the larger the gain for the lender.
Until recently, that spread has remained relatively steady – around 0.75 percentage points over the past five years or so. But since the end of 2011, the spread has widened significantly, averaging 1.4 percentage points. That’s because bond yields have fallen farther than the mortgage rates banks are charging borrowers.
This means that banks and other lenders may not be passing on those low bond market rates to borrowers. Instead, they’re taking a bigger cut and increasing the size of their own gains on the transaction. Explanations for this range from benign to deliberately manipulative, citing increased demand for mortgages because of low rates and a recovering housing market, or a deliberate strategy on the part of lenders to increase profits on mortgage lending.
In any case, rates passed on to borrowers still remain historically low. But because of the mortgage-bond link and the performance of US backed securities in the larger market, most mortgage industry experts doubt those rates will sink any lower – and, given the interplay among all factors, they may eventually rise. For those following Jason Hartman’s recommendations for investing in income property, it’s wise to do your homework and shop for the best rates—because they’re still the best bargain around. (Top image: Flickr | amaslow)
The Jason Hartman Team
