Mortgage Rate Trends Showing Lower Futures?

For the first two weeks of May mortgage rates have ticked up on a national average.  The Freddie Mac weekly survey data showed that mortgage rates fell to 4.82% last week.  This is not the lowest they have been but if the overall trend continues to hold, we should see mortgage rates at an all time low in the coming weeks.

With rates at an all time low, is now the time to refinance or buy that first house?  Well, that is a personal decision that has to be made by each unique circumstance.  If you currently have a mortgage rate of higher than 6% then it is very likely that you will save quite a bit of money if you can refinance at a rate even close to the national average.  Make sure to get an appraisal of your home before you go through the refinance process as your home may be worth much less than you anticipated causing the rate you get to be much higher. 

If you are thinking about buying your first home or a new home it is a very sticky situation in the real estate industry right now.  You hear many financial advisers out there saying that now is the best time in history to buy a home in America.  That may very well be the case, but you could very well lose over 10% of your homes value in the first few months you own it.  If you think you will immediately make money off buying a home right now, you might want to think again as it is likely that the housing market has more room to fall.