Mortgage Rates Drop Anew

Freddie Mac reports that fixed mortgage rates have again dropped to their lowest levels following the announcement by the Federal Reserve that it will buy bonds to help pump the economy.

Mortgage rates have been down for the most part of the year, but they have yet to attract interests from buyers. Mortgage brokers are lamenting the slow sales that the housing market has been experiencing for the last few months.

There are a variety of reasons that might be preventing buyers to put their money in the housing market. The unemployment rate remains high while foreclosure and credit standards have been stricter.

The National Association of Realtors said that the summer months registered the lowest home sales, even declining by 21 percent from the same period last year. This is despite the drop in home prices many cities around the country for in the third quarter.

Banks are poised to act on 1 million more home foreclosures this year once the moratorium on the market is lifted. Banks have suspended and frozen their foreclosure proceedings after claims of irregular paperwork descended on the industry. The freeze had resulted in a 9 percent fall in bank repossessions in October.

But many of these banks are expected to lift the moratorium soon. Economists say that the suspension of foreclosures did not actually improve foreclosure rates nor help delinquent borrowers alleviate their situation.

The nation’s economic and financial woes are still causing many homeowners to default on their loans. The number of homeowners, who are at risk of foreclosure, including those with more than one mortgage, is steadily increasing.

The third quarter shows that delinquent borrowers have increased to 23 percent and those who hardly have any equity on their homes are finding it hard to avail of any refinancing program despite very low rates.

Interest rates for 15-year fixed loans have dropped to 3.57% from 3.63 percent, the lowest since 1991 when Freddie Mac had started tracking the fluctuations in mortgage rates.

The Federal Reserve had disclosed a bond-buying program worth $600 billion to help prop up the economy.