US Home Loan Rates Jump to Highest Since November 2018

Source: Reuters

US home loan interest rates climbed to a three-year low in the past week, with homebuyers rushing to make acquisitions before rates jump even higher. XHB is up 1.43%, while ITB is up 1.58%.

• The average contract rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed 5.13% in the week ending April 8, up from 4.90% the previous week.
• This is 1.5 percentage points higher than the levels seen at the start of 2022, with the Federal Reserve anticipated to tighten policy moving forward.
• The Purchase Composite Index increased by 1.4% to 261.8, while the refinance index slipped 4.9%.
• Mortgage originations declined 35.5% so far this year to $2.58 trillion, but purchase originations are still expected to increase 4% to $1.72 trillion.
• The expected tightening of policy rates has driven Treasury yields higher, with the 10-year note reaching the highest level since 2018.