Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog: May 2011

May 23, 2011

Mortgage markets were unchanged last week, despite improving on four of five days. Economic data was worse-than-expected almost across the board, but neither FHA nor conforming mortgage rates budged.

Instead, markets grappled with the just-released Fed Minutes which weighed heavily on investors and on Wall Street.With the release of the minutes, it’s increasingly clear that the Federal Reserve will end its support for bond markets on schedule in June, and that a Fed Fund Rate hike is possible within the next 12 months.

Not surprisingly, the date of the Fed Minutes release — Wednesday — was the singular “down day” for mortgage markets last week.

After falling for 4 straight weeks, mortgage rates appear to have troughed. This week they could rise, and there’s no shortage of data on which for bonds for trade.

•Tuesday : New Home Sales; Speeches from Fed’s Plosser and Bullard
•Wednesday : Durable Goods; FHFA Home Price Index
•Thursday : GDP; Initial Jobless Claims
•Friday : Core PCE; Pending Home Sales; Consumer Sentiment
There’s other forces on markets, too. First, there are 3 bond auctions — a 2-year, a 5-year, and a 7-year. Weak demand for any of the three will lead mortgage rates higher.

And, second, this is a holiday week. Memorial Day is next Monday and, with the 3-day weekend ahead, expect large numbers of Wall Streeters to skip out on Friday (and likely part of Thursday, too). As the week concludes, therefore, bond volume will thin, amplifying mortgage rate movement — up or down.

If you’re shopping for a mortgage, it’s a good time to look at locking in. As the week progresses, mortgage rates should become less predictable and more volatile.

Children’s Healthcare of Forsyth
410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 300
Cumming, GA 30041
Along with a facility tour, this family-friendly event will include:
 Face painting and a moonwalk for the kids
 Wellness screenings for scoliosis, asthma and body mass index (BMI)
 A chance to meet Hope & Will, the healthcare mascots
 A tour of their critical care vehicle
 Food & Drinks
Children’s Healthcare of Forsyth will provide specialized care & outpatient services, including:
 Fracture care
 Immediate care
 Orthotics & prosethetics
 Pediatric specialty care
 Rehabilitation
 Sports medicine
 X-Ray & Lab services
Stay Connected with Children’s:

For more information on this awesome facility
coming to our neighborhood,
visit www.choa.org/forsyth

Labels: childrens health, your real estate agent

Mortgage markets worsened overall last week for the first time in 5 weeks.

Better-than-anticipated economic data plus dwindling concerns for Greece’s sovereign debt combined to a spark a bond sell-off. Conforming mortgage rates moved higher as a result.

Rate shoppers were hit especially hard last Tuesday.

At Monday’s close, conventional fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages were posting their lowest levels of 2011, but by Tuesday’s market close, rates had climbed as much as 0.250 percent across the board. In some cases, more.

The spike highlights how quickly mortgage rates can change in a recovering economy, and why “floating” a rate can be costly.

This week, mortgage rates figure to be equally volatile. There’s a large set of market-changing data planned for release, and several Fed members have planned public appearances, including a 9:00 AM ET, Monday morning kickoff from Fed Chairman Bernanke.

•Monday : Bernanke speech; Homebuilder Confidence Survey
•Tuesday : Housing Starts; Building Permits
•Wednesday : FOMC Minutes
•Thursday : Existing Home Sales
In addition, Thursday brings a second rate shopper-risk.

The Initial Jobless Claims will be released at 8:30 AM ET and it will be closely watched by Wall Street. Initial claims are sharply higher since the end of April and investors believe the jobs market is key in a sustained economic recovery. If the data shows that initial claims receded, mortgage rates are expected to rise in response

Labels: alpharetta homes for sale, cumming homes for sale, current mortgage rates

Saturday, May 28th & 29th
at Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
The Atlanta Jazz Festival, May 28 & 29, 2011, is regarded as one of the Country’s largest FREE jazz festivals. It is an annual musical showcase, celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats in venues throughout metropolitan Atlanta during the entire month of May.

February 19 - August 14, 2011
at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, GA
Price: $15 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, $13 for children ages 12-3, free for children 2 and younger, free for museum membership:
http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/
Discover how living and prehistoric animals inspired dragons, unicorns, mermaids and more as you learn how cultures throughout time have created mythic creatures to explain the natural world, express thoughts and share beliefs. Investigate authentic artifacts, fossils and dramatic models as you explore the stories, traditions and dances that celebrate these magical beings. Highlights include a 17-foot dragon, a 10-foot unicorn, a swooping winged Roc, a kraken surfacing from the sea, and more.

Labels: best realtors in town, fernbank, great fun for the kids