Wednesday, February 17, 2010

There is Not Much Time Left

No I'm not talking about the tax credit. While the home buyer tax credit has received the most attention, the government's mortgage backed security (MBS) program has done more for the real estate market and may have a bigger impact when it's over.

The federal government allocated $1.25 TRILLION to purchase MBS to keep mortgage backed rates. In fact, they have become the ONLY player in the MBS market. The MBS purchase program is set to expire at the end of March. Once the government leaves we will see rates increase, the question is how much? Some experts believe we will see an increase of at least 1% immediately and possibly 2%-3% higher by the end of the year.

What does this mean in dollars? If you have a $200,000 loan currently you could receive an interest rate of 5% which would give you a payment of $1,073. If rates increase to 6% your payment will increase to $1,199. The difference of $125/month or $1,500/month or $45,000 over the life of the loan.

If you thought of refinancing, have a rate above 6%, have an adjustable rate, or purchasing a new home, do it now. Go to www.colomortgages.com and apply online for free.

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