Huntsville Real Estate Blog

When the Fed lowers interest rates, as it continues to do this month, everyone gets excited and there is a lot of buzz about the real estate market.  But – when it comes to you and me – what do these lower interest rates really mean? Here are some examples:

Homeowners: If you already have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) on a home, you could save hundreds of dollars a month if your loan is pegged to Treasury rates, which have fallen considerably thanks to the Fed’s recent cuts.  The catch is that many buyers in more expensive areas resort to “jumbo loans,” which are typically pegged to slower-moving indexes that remain elevated.  If you have a fixed-rate mortgage (not a jumbo loan), you could consider the cost of re-financing (think origination fees, appraisal fees, closing costs) against the savings of a lower interest rate for your monthly payment.

Borrowers: Several banks lowered their prime rate, which forms the foundation for car loans, home equity lines and other loans.  But you must carry a whopping $5,000 credit card balance to save just $12.50 annually from a quarter-point rate cut.

Consumers: Lower rates threaten to boost inflation and the price of imports.  So far, inflation has been held in check, and foreign companies generally are holding the line on prices.

Savers: Falling interest rates normally would whack rates on CDs and other savings.  But the cash crunch has spurred many banks to prop up such rates.

Travelers: International vacations and business trips cost more because the dollar has sagged in the wake of the Fed’s cuts.  But it could be buoyed if other central banks trim rates.

In short, unless you are about to purchase a new home and can take advantage of the new lower interest rates by locking in a fixed-rate mortgage now, you may not end up seeing a whole lot of benefit to the interest rate cuts.

To learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.  You may also sign up to receive automated emails of new listings at HuntsvilleHomeHunter.com. 

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As you have likely seen in the news this week, the Fed continues to drop its federal funds rate; the trend continued yesterday as it was slashed again by another half of a percentage point.  This move, however, will end mortgage rates’ 5-week record descent, according to Freddie Mac.  

The government-sponsored loan buyer said the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan averaged 5.68% for the week ending today, up from 5.48% last week, but still well below its historical average and the 6.34% average we had this time last year, Freddie Mac noted.

“Reinforcing the Fed’s resolution to thwart a recession, the Federal Open Market Committee announced another cut in the target federal funds rate by half of a percentage point in their most recent scheduled meeting,” said Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist Frank Nothaft in a statement today. 

Read the full article here, and remember to always contact an experienced Realtor when you are looking for a referral to a reputable lender.

To learn more about Huntsville AL real estate, please visit MoveToHuntsville.com or call me at 256-508-0211.  Click here to begin searching for a Huntsville AL home.

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