At the first of the year we published a range of forecasts. This included the predictions for interest rates in 2019. These predictions were summarized by MarketWatch — For 2019, Market Watch reviewed the predictions of rates on home loans by several major economists. The range was an annual average of between 4.8% to 5.3% for 30-year fixed rates. In general, that means the economists believe that rates will rise some more.
Basically, at this point we can say that these forecasts were wrong. Rates have actually come down so far this year, with 30-year fixed rates averaging more than one-half of one percent below this range. We all know that predictions are often wrong, which is why we don’t place bets on the markets. We are not here to place blame. We are here to point out an important opportunity. If you are looking to make a large purchase such as a home or refinancing, this is certainly a great time to take advantage of these low rates.
We must also point out that there is plenty of time left in the year. That means that the original predictions may still turn out to be true. We know that rates, like any markets, can turn at any time. For that reason, we can’t say how long this opportunity will last. It may last a few more weeks or for a much longer period of time. Our advice would be to act on what is beneficial to you today, rather than waiting for the other shoe to drop later on.
Dave Hershman is the top author in the mortgage industry. Dave has published seven books, as well as hundreds of articles and is the founder of the OriginationPro Marketing System and Mortgage School. Want to send this commentary and other news in a personalized format to your sphere database or on social media? Sign up for a free trial at www.OriginationPro.com.