3 Decades of declining Mortgage Rates Over
For all the mixed messages from the Fed and the uncertainty that has roiled financial markets recently, one thing looks very clear: The era of declining interest rates is over.

After three decades in which borrowing costs for Americans have pretty much declined steadily to rock-bottom levels -- easing consumer debt burdens for cars, homes and college education -- the long-term path of interest rates is now at a turning point, according to many economists and investors.

Regardless of the Federal Reserve's statement and its economic outlook to be issued Wednesday and the market's reaction to Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's comments at his quarterly news conference, the reality is that the flood of easy money is ebbing and the economy is shifting to a new period of rising rates.
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Bank's Customers Ignore Government Refi Program
Huntington Bancshares is having trouble persuading some of its customers to tap a federal program that would help them save money.

Too Late to Refinance?
By now you've heard the news ... mortgage rates are on the rise. Earlier this month, the average 30-year mortgage rate hovered at nearly 4 percent. That upward trend (from 3.5 to 4.0) will likely continue over the coming weeks and months, according to AJC contributor Wes Moss.

14-Month High for Mortgage Rates
Are 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with interest rates beginning with a "3" soon to become something found only in the history books?

Short Sales Hurt Borrower's Credit
Michael Son was just weeks away from closing on a three-bedroom ranch house in New Jersey last year when his lender called with bad news.

Comparison Shopping Difficult in Mortgage Market
Competition is generally viewed as a good thing, in the United States at least. Hence, advertisements that create an image of powerful banks having to compete among themselves for the favor of individual mortgage borrowers creates a generally favorable impression. The problem is that competition generates favorable results only under certain conditions, and those conditions are very difficult to find in the home mortgage market.

5 Weeks of Worsening Mortgage Rates
Fixed mortgage rates shot higher for the fifth consecutive week,Freddie Mac said, with the typical 15-year home loan topping 3 percent for the first time in a year and the 30-year rate rising to an average of 3.91 percent from 3.81 percent a week ago.

Mortgages Hard to Come by if Income Can't Be Documented
In a recent column, I pointed out that mortgage lenders today can make a loan with only 3 percent down to a borrower with a steady job but a credit score of only 570, and have it insured by the Federal Housing Administration. But lenders can't or won't accommodate a self-employed physician who can't adequately document enough income, even if the physician can put 30 percent down and has a credit score of 800. Considering that the likelihood of default is at least 10 times higher on the first mortgage, this is insane.

Mortgage Rates Continue Ascension
Mortgage rates no longer are uber-low.

West Leads Gain in Home Prices
Led by big gains in Western states, national home prices were 12.1 percent higher in April than the year prior, according to a leading home price index, underscoring how low supply and strong demand have become powerful boosts for the nation's housing market.