Comments on: Historical Mortgage Rates Chart (1986-2010)

By: joelkton

joelkton — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:43:02 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUldGc06S3U

Aha! This is the video I remembered of the roller coaster housing price chart. Very illuminating.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:22:58 +0000

@PedroNY – I think he started 20-ish years ago.

By: PedroNY

PedroNY — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:04:59 +0000

When rates go up, that would put some presure on the housing prices to go further down.

Also, you can have both rates and prices going down. That has been happening in Japan for about 10-12 years after their real estate buble. Rates were near 0%, they had deflation, and housing prices kept on droping. Historically in U.S. that happend in 1890s as well, but not recently — it does not mean it cannot happen again.

Patrick, your equity is already down $6,000 so this re-fi does not do anything additonal. If it represents actual market price, that means it is reflected in the appraisal.

Jenna, your broker has not been in the business all that long, rates were around 15%-18% about 27 years ago, and that was not all that unusual.

By: joelkton

joelkton — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:01:12 +0000

Maury, great chart, thanks. I remember watching a video that showed the graph as a roller coaster from the point of view of the rider. It went up and down, up and down and then it just kept on going during the last bubble. It was produced before the bubble burst, I think, and I’ve always wondered about it. Perhaps there was a link here to Jonathan’s site, I don’t remember. Anyone know if it’s still out there?

By: Maury

Maury — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:54:57 +0000

Here is an updated Shiller Price Index showing where House Prices are at historically…

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2.....-forecast/

When rates do go up, expect house prices to continue to fall.

I bought a new house in January and locked in a 30 yr fixed with no points at 4.75. It was the 40 year low at the time, which has since gone a bit lower.

I fully expect my house price to fall quite a bit…

By: Stephan

Stephan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:12:40 +0000

Hi Gloria,

Great rate. May I know which state and lender?

By: Gloria

Gloria — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:03:46 +0000

Got a 4.375% for a 30-yr with 0 points and 0% originating fee. Sweet deal to bring down my APR from 5.5% to 4.375%…saving $200plus every month! YAY!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:38:28 +0000

I could give you the name and number of my broker, but, I can’t say for sure if he will give you the same deal as me. I did my original mortgage through him as well.

By: joelkton

joelkton — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:28:22 +0000

I’m no expert, but the low rates are very likely a last-ditch effort to keep housing prices artificially inflated. As soon as rates have to rise, prices will have to fall. Didn’t I read somewhere that, historically, the average house price has been 3x annual income. That would make the average around a 150,000.

Like you, I’m very curious to see what will happen when rates rise. Very, very curious.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:22:32 +0000

I was looking to refinance and locked in my rate n June 24th 2010 when 15 years dropped to 4.25% with Bank of America. I refinanced from 30 years @ 6.625 with Bank of America to 15 years @ 4.25% with Bank of America. The monthly payment is more but only by 15% which isn’t bad. Within 12 months I’ll be at the same principle I was at with the previous mortgage. My refinance closed within 32 days, I closed earlier this morning. My house was appraised with 8 days of having the rate locked in. I have been truly amazed on how fast and easy this refinance process has been for me.

By: Chris in Boston

Chris in Boston — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:24:43 +0000

I think this is not 100% accurate. I know for a fact that in 2003 there was a brief period where rates dipped as low as 4.75% for a 30y FRM. I was turned down for that rate on a refi application because of a tax lien on my property, due to an escrow screw up by City of Boston and GMAC Mortgage at the time.

It is VERY tough to get a refi today. I was able to complete one last May. It took me 9 months from start to closing to complete me refi. I was able to reduce my rate from 6.50% to 4.75% with no points going through Bank of America. I did have to pay closing costs, appraisal fees, and attorney fees. But I saved over $689 a month in the process and will have recouped my refi costs in less than 12 months.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:07:11 +0000

I’m looking to buy my first home and am REALLY excited out such low rates. My mortgage broker mentioned when he started in the business they were around 10% – CRAZY!

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:38:38 +0000

Patrick,

I’d like to know where you managed to get such a deal. I could use the same deal myself.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:35:52 +0000

Hi Patrick, how is ur lender? just curious. cuz thats a good deal with zero cost and zero points.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:08:15 +0000

We are going through a refi right now from 5.35% to 4.65%. It will save us approx $90 a month. No points and no closing costs. Our appraisal came in $6,000 lower than the purchase price a year ago august. At what point is it not worth the hit in equity vs the monthly/loan term savings?