When is the "perfect" time to lock your mortage rate?

Know How To Recognize A Good Mortgage Rate

Mortgage lenders are often asked if there is a best time of day, day of the week, or period of the year when a prospective borrower should lock in a mortgage interest rate. 

The truth is, no one can tell with any degree of accuracy what rates will do.
In fact, the best time to lock a mortgage is when the unexpected happens.

Case in point: Brexit
Recently, Britain voted to exit the European Union. “Brexit,” as it is known, caused an international "flight to quality," meaning investors worldwide sought perceived safe assets like U.S. mortgage bonds. Mortgage rates fell dramatically.
These unforeseen shifts are the best time to lock a mortgage. But what if you’re not fortunate enough to be rate shopping during a period of mortgage rate upheaval?
Then, you go into the process knowing how to recognize a good rate, and being ready to lock it in.

Locking The Perfect Rate Is Like Hitting A Moving Target

Purchasing a home could be the most impactful financial decision you will make in your life. You want to capitalize on the lowest possible rate.
In an ideal world, you would know when to pull the trigger on a rate lock with perfect timing -- assured in the knowledge that rates have hit their relative lowest point. But with interest rates subject to change daily and even hourly, choosing the right time to pull the trigger on a rate lock can be difficult.
This is a matter best discussed with experienced mortgage expert who can review your unique situation and suggest relevant options.

Condo Certs are difficult to obtain!

Is it any wonder nobody wants to originate a mortgage for a condo these days? Not only are there exceptionally stringent guidelines to adhere to as far as whether the project is eligible for financing, but it costs the donation of your left kidney to obtain the documents required to determine this. For a good while the trend has been for Property Management companies to steer us to an automated website in order to obtain the elusive condo questionnaire, Master Insurance Policy, Budget, CCRs, Litigation Information, and Bylaws. In order for one to gain access to these all important items, it is required to pay upwards of $250! After waiting a few days, time that can barely be spared, the documents are available to download, at which point you discover the Master Insurance Declaration Page is expired, or the project is non-warrantable, which sees your $250 go up in flames as your money was spent on a project that is not worthy of a regular loan.

It's fast and furious when deciding to Lock or Float

Mortgage Rates at 3.5 Percent, until Noon yesterday

 

Mortgage rates were widely available at 3.5 percent for some of the day yesterday.  At any other time from the middle of 2013 through the end of 2015, that's not something that very many people thought they'd be able to say (or read, or think!).   


As is often the case with financial markets, the biggest, quickest moves demand an occasional pause. The bounce prompted most lenders to revise rate sheets higher in the afternoon.

Still, it's a good wake-up call as to the potentially temporary nature of the long-term lows we have been enjoying.  Markets run hard.  Sometimes they can surprise you as to how hard and how fast they change.  And then at some point, the running is over, or worse: we run in the other direction.  

There's no telling whether that's the case with yesterdays intraday bounce, but it's always a risk that can factor into one's decision-making process when it comes to locking or floating.
 
                    Call me for help with your purchase or refinance mortgage questions.