Seattle King County Mortgage Rates

Mortgage Rates Dip.....Again

2010-06-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

With mortgage rates at record low levels, the window of opportunity remains open to refinance and lock in low fixed rates, especially for homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages bound to reset higher over the next few years. If you have any questions about how much you can save, please feel free to inquire. Consultations take just a few minutes, but the savings last for years.

www.NilesHomeLoans.com

2010-05-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

We underwrite our own files, lend our own money and close our mortgages in days not weeks. If you are considering a refinance to lower your payment or if you are in the market to buy a Portland Oregon Home, visit us today at www.NilesHomeLoans.com

Amanda Niles, MBA
Senior Mortgage Banker
503-810-4873

Mortgage Rates Hit New Lows

2010-05-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Here's some good news for the struggling US housing market: Thanks to the European debt crisis, mortgage rates are at historic lows.

The current average rate for a 30 year fixed loan is 4.87 percent, according to Bankrate.com. That's the lowest rate for the 30 years since Bankrate started keeping track 25 years ago.

Even jumbo loan rates-loans for more than $417,000-have fallen. The 30-year fixed jumbo loan is at an average rate of 4.5 percent, down from nearly 6 percent at this time last year.

"It's the best time in our generation to buy," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's. "It may be the best time in any generation. Mortgage rates are so low and with homes prices down and lots of inventory, you couldn't pick a better time to buy or re-finance."

Europe's debt crisis is behind the drop. Nervous investors are flocking to the security of US Treasurys, which pushes down their yield and influences a host of consumer interest rates-including those on mortgages.

The decline is also good news for homeowners looking to refinance, particularly those who owe more on their mortgage than their house is worth.

"There's a tremendous window on re-financing," says Greg McBride, chief economist at Bankrate.com. "That's particularly true for people who can take advantage of the government's Home Affordability Refinance Program (HARP)-which allows home owners to refinance into low mortgage interest rates even if they're property value has gone down."

HARP, which was due to end at the end of this June, now runs through June of 2011.

"Think of the benefits if you buy or refinance now," says McBride. "Locking in now at the lower rates means more more bang for the buck and more breathing room for homeowners when it comes to payments."

But the decline in rates probably won't last long, analysts say. So homeowners need to move fast.

"I think they won't last much longer than a month or two at the best," says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors. "I can see them going up to 5.5 percent by the end of June if not sooner."

The reasons? Yun says the worries over Europe will be fading soon and investors will be looking at other assets besides US Treasurys. And there's the US deficit, which will push up Treasury yields.

Rates Drop!!

2010-05-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates have dipped to unprecedented lows! If you have considered a refinance or purchase....NOW is a phenomenal time! The phone will not stop ringing. I suggest we see how much you can save! Wow! 503-810-4873

Economic Calendar For the Rest of the Week that Influence Mortgage Rates

2010-05-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday

* Housing Starts(medium impact). Since many believe that until housing picks up, our economy will continue to struggle which makes tracking home sales data of more importance today than in past times.
* Producer Price Index(medium impact) This data gives us a reading of inflation on the producer level. During periods of higher unemployment, producers find it difficult to pass along higher prices to the end consumer which makes this data of less importance than consumer inflation data.

Wednesday

* Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Application Index (low impact)
* MBA Q1 2010 Delinquency Report. (medium impact)
* Consumer Price Index(high impact) This data gives us a reading on inflation at the consumer level.
* Federal Open Market Committee releases the minutes from the last FOMC meeting (medium to high impact)

Thursday

* Jobless Claims(medium impact)
* Leading Indicators(low impact)
* Philadelphia Fed survey(medium impact) This data gives us a measure of the strength of manufacturing in the Philadelphia region.
* Announcement of the size of next week’s debt offering of 2 year, 5 year and 7 year treasury notes. The Department of Treasury is expected to offer $43billion of 2 year notes, $41billion of 5 year notes and $32billion of 7 year notes.

Friday

* No data

Bureau of Labor Data Released

2010-05-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 290,000 in April, the unemployment rate edged up to 9.9 percent, and the labor force increased sharply, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Since December, nonfarm payroll employment has expanded by 573,000, with 483,000 jobs added in the private sector. The vast majority of job growth occurred during the last 2 months

This was the largest gain in payrolls since March 2006 (+304K)

Federal government employment was up in April, reflecting the hiring of 66,000 temporary workers for the decennial census

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.1 hours.

The average hourly earnings of all employees in the private nonfarm sector increased by 1 cent to $22.47 in April. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.6 percent.

Stocks plunge as trading glitch news arrises

2010-05-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

Stocks plunged 9 percent in the last two hours of trading on Thursday before clawing back some of the losses as the escalating debt crisis in Europe stoked fears a new credit crunch was in the making.

The Dow suffered its biggest ever intraday point drop, which may have been caused by an erroneous trade entered by a person at a big Wall Street bank, multiple market sources said.

Volatility in Stocks

2010-05-06T12:51:00.001-07:00

Stocks are posting steep losses in mid-afternoon trading on Thursday, as concerns over the financial and civil chaos in Greece continues to weigh on the markets. The major averages are all in negative territory, extending this week’s downward move.

Yields on 10-year treasury notes dropped the most since September 2008 and the euro fell to a new 14-month low, below $1.26.

Some Good News on the Housing Front

2010-05-06T10:27:00.001-07:00

The home buyer tax credit finally started showing an impact in March, when existing single-family home sales rose 7.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million. That was a 16.6% increase over the sales pace a year earlier. Sales were up both monthly and annually in all four Census regions.

New single-family home sales also rallied in March, jumping a near record 27% from February’s sales pace of 324,000 to a seasonally adjusted 411,000, up 24% on a year-over-year basis. The South showed the biggest gain — 43.5% — and the Northeast was the second most robust region of the country for sales, coming in at 35.7%, although rebounding from an unusual low in February.

While the approaching expiration date for the home buyer tax credit accounted for much of the bounce back, unseasonably harsh winter weather in February added some pent-up demand to the housing market in March.

In order to qualify for the home buyer tax credit, buyers had to sign sales contracts by April 30 and they are also required to meet a closing deadline of June 30. Since new home sales are reported when a contract is signed, April new home sales should be robust. Existing home sales are recorded at closing, so they should see a lift from the tax credit through June.

To the extent that some prospective home buyers have moved their purchases forward to qualify for the credit, new home sales after April and existing home sales after July are likely to experience some leveling off. At that point, the reviving economy, low mortgage rates, affordable house prices and new job growth will take over as the forces driving home buying activity.

In the meantime, adverse credit conditions will continue to serve as a speed bump in the housing recovery as buyers grapple with tighter credit standards and builders attempt to overcome major impediments to obtaining and renewing acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans.

Builders also continue to face intense price pressure and competition from foreclosure and short sales. Appraisers are using distressed sales in their valuations of newly built properties without properly adjusting for the run-down conditions of many previously owned homes that have been languishing on the market. Pressure from banking regulators can further encourage “low ball” appraisals. For builders, unfortunately, poor appraisals often can result in lost sales.

About Us & How We Offer Such Great Mortgage Rates

2010-05-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Our team is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality financial services combined with the Lowest Mortgage Rates available in Oregon, Washington, & California. I will work with you one on one to ensure that you get the best mortgage solution that is tailored specifically to meet your financing needs.

Whether you are purchasing your dream home, refinancing an outstanding loan, or consolidating debt, my highly experienced team will help you find the right loan program at the lowest rate no matter what your needs are.

Our ultimate goal is to create lasting relationships with each of our clients so that we may continue providing excellent service for many years to come.

Unlike many of the larger nationwide mortgage companies that are out there, all your information will be kept secure and private. www.NilesHomeLoans.com and Summit Mortgage are trusted names throughout the community and we look forward to showing you why.

To speak directly with an experienced mortgage professional simply give me a call anytime or feel free to utilize any of the interactive tools offered on our site. I look forward to working with you and exceeding your expectations.

Amanda Niles, MBA
Cell: (503) 810-4873
Office: (503) 546-1274
amandan@go-summit.com
amanda@nileshomeloans.com
www.NilesHomeLoans.com

King County is a Spectacular Place to Call Home

2010-05-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

With record low Seattle Mortgage Rates, this is the time to refinance or to buy!

Seattle has been ranked as one of the best U.S. cities in which to live and locate a business. Numerous high profile companies have helped place Seattle on the map. Headquartered in The Emerald City, Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon.com have demonstrated that hi-tech companies mix well with the beautiful setting Seattle has to offer. Microsoft is the world’s leading personal computer software company, but is only one of over 2,000 software companies that operate in Washington. Seattle always is received well in the 'best place to live' polls, and for good reason. Seattle is a lively and beautiful city that offers a near perfect location with quick access to the mountains, beaches, lakes, and forests, which are all in close to this magnificent city.