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Mortgage Mom Radio airs weekly focusing on topics that will educate our listeners around mortgage lending. This week we continue the Homebuyers Workshop 2021 series by covering the the many benefits along with the responsibilities of homeownership.  Afterwards we answer your questions that were left in the comments and stay tuned past the 1 hour mark for bonus content!

A Look Into the Markets

“But if you try sometimes, well, you might find, you get what you need” … You Can’t Always Get What You Want — The Rolling Stones.

“Don’t Fight the Fed”

The Federal Reserve has been very clear on their communications over the past 18 months. They want to see inflation run hotter before even thinking about raising interest rates. And when we say interest rates, the only interest rates the Fed can control are short-term interest rates, by hiking or cutting the Fed Funds Rate. Long-term rates, like mortgages, are driven by the financial markets and inflation expectations. Yes, the Fed is buying bonds to manipulate long-term rates — more on that below.

If inflation is rising, it puts upward pressure on long-term rates, which is exactly what has happened over the last two weeks as inflation expectations rose to the highest level in two years and the 10-year yield spiked to 1.19%, the highest level since last March.

The Quandary?

More stimulus is on the way. The incoming Biden administration has put forth a plan to spend trillions of dollars to help revive and stimulate the economy, and this is a major reason why inflation expectations, real asset, and commodity prices are rising, thereby causing the spike to be higher in long-term rates.

The incoming huge stimulus and rising inflation expectations would normally give the Fed reason to stop buying bonds every month. Remember, the Fed is currently purchasing at least $120B in Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) each month to artificially help keep long-term rates relatively low. So, with inflation rising, does the Fed stop buying bonds and let market conditions dictate the real pricing of interest rates? Not any time soon.

And while some Fed members were out talking about “tapering” purchases, Fed Chair Powell spoke on Thursday and told the markets they will continue the present bond buying program.

This means we may see a continued uptick in inflation expectations, and the Fed may be pressured to do even more, like buy additional bonds to help keep long-term rates low.

Bottom line: With only a couple weeks into 2021, we are already seeing a shift towards slightly higher rates. If you or someone you know would like to talk about the incredible opportunity, please contact me.

Looking Ahead

Next week the economic calendar is light, but corporate earnings season will be in full swing. This means we will hear what corporations are thinking about current and future conditions. If stocks move higher on the notion of better days ahead, rates may follow suit. The opposite is true.

We are LIVE on YouTube every Wednesday at 5 PM. Watch us record our show! Ask us your questions right in the feed, we’ll read those and answer them for you. Make sure to subscribe to our channel and turn on your notifications to know when we get started.

Mortgage Mom Radio equips you with all of the mortgage education that you could ask for right at your fingertips! Listen to our Podcast with hours of shows and topics, download our PHONE APP loaded with every mortgage tool that you could need, and last but not least, watch our weekly Homebuyer Workshop Series on YouTube! Mortgage Mom Radio

How do you schedule a phone appointment with mom? Call our office, 844-935-3634. Get your free consultation today! Do you want our phone app to have the tools you need at your fingertips? Click the link: PHONE APP

Debbie Marcoux is licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, NMLS ID 237926, also licensed in AZ-0941504, FL-LO76508, GA-69178, IL-031.0058339, NV-57237, OR, TN-184373, TX, WA-MLO-237926 | Heidi Slagle-Points CA NMLS ID 1666881