Oct 28, 2007

BusinessWeek: Has the mortgage crisis finally peaked?

A significant rise in jumbo loan rates resulting in a high number of postponed or cancelled sales was a particularly strong disruption to August home sales, according to NAR senior economist Lawrence Yun. On Aug. 15 the 30-year fixed jumbo mortgage rate hit 7.43%, according to data from Bankrate.com.

But now those "temporary" mortgage problems may have subsided. As of today, Bankrate.com reports that the jumbo mortgage rate is down to 6.59%. "Mortgage problems were peaking back in August when many September closings were being negotiated, and that slowed sales notably in higher-priced areas that rely more on jumbo loans," said Yun in a release. "The good news is that mortgage availability has markedly improved in recent weeks with interest rates on jumbo loans falling, and more people are applying for safer and conforming FHA mortgage products."

~ BusinessWeek, "Has the Mortgage Crisis Finally Peaked?," October 24, 2007, by Maya Roney

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