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HIGHER Mortgage Rates Despite Fed Rate CUT. Here's Why

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

One of the greatest potential sources of confusion for prospective mortgage borrowers is the relationship between the Fed and mortgage rates. While the Fed's policy changes absolutely have a big impact on all sorts of interest rates (including mortgages), a drop in the Fed's policy rate DOES NOT result in lower mortgage rates. In fact, the OPPOSITE was true today. The main reason for confusion is the fact that there's a huge difference from an investment standpoint between a rate that governs the shortest -term transactions (The Fed Funds Rate applies to loans that last for 1 day or less) and a rate that can remain in effect for up to 30 years in the case of mortgages. Even if we use the average life span of a 30yr fixed mortgage, we're still talking about 5-10 years depending on the broader...(read more)