What Will Mortgage Rates Do in 2018?
LOUISIANA REALTORS • January 30, 2018
Over the past several years homebuyers have enjoyed record low mortgage rates. As the economy continues to recover and thrive after the recession, the threat of increasing interest rates has grown. While the escalation has been small, it doesn’t take much of a change on either side of the decimal point to mean big dollars over the next 30 years. So what does the mortgage
rate landscape have in store for 2018?
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Simply put, rates will be increasing. In 2017 there was a slight increase in March when rates peaked at 4.44%, before ending the year at 4.15%. This year they are expected to increase by about one half of one percent. With this forecasted rate hike, securing a mortgage now, before the increase, could save you thousands of dollars.
Here are a few predictions for 2018:
Mortgage Bankers Association: 4.6%
National Association of REALTORS®: 4.5%
REALTOR®.com: 4.6% average, reaching 5% by the end of 2018.
If you are considering purchasing a new home this year, there is no time like the present to take advantage of these historically low rates. It’s always a good idea to secure your financing before you begin shopping ; and trusting a REALTOR® to help you through this process can ensure a smooth transaction.
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on buying land and building a new home. This guide covers how to find land for sale, explains construction loans, and weighs the pros and cons of building a custom home. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Buying Land and Building a New Home Deeds and Titles Alternative Listing Options Navigating Multiple Offers Homeowners Associations Thank you for continuing to engage with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover property title theft.
Negotiating a real estate deal can be overwhelming, especially for buyers who don’t have experience with the process. Here are five key negotiation strategies smart buyers use—and how working with a REALTOR® provides a competitive edge.
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