206-999-1690
larryreichle@remax.net
LOGIN | REGISTER

Larry & Kathy Reichle

Issaquah Real Estate | Call: 206-999-1690

LARRY & KATHY REICHLE, EASTSIDE REAL ESTATE TEAM

Call or Text Us – 206-999-1690

  • Home
  • About
    • About Larry & Kathy Reichle
    • Testimonials
    • Larry and Kathy’s Resume
    • References
  • Home Search
    • Search Options
      • Map Search
      • Advanced Home Search
      • Simple Home Search
      • Search by Address
      • Search by City
    • Search by Communities
      • Bellevue Real Estate
      • Issaquah Real Estate
      • Kirkland Real Estate
      • Maple Valley Real Estate
      • Redmond Real Estate
      • Sammamish Real Estate
  • Buyer
    • Lender
    • Thinking of Buying?
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • My Search Account
  • Seller
    • Thinking of Selling?
    • Our Sold Listings
  • What’s MY Home’s Value
  • Blog
    • Eastside Real Estate Blog
    • Issaquah Community Blog
  • Contact Information

How to Buy a Home When Mortgage Rates Are Rising

March 12, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Mortgage rates have risen about half a percentage point since September. What does that mean for you if you’re buying a home now or plan to buy one soon?

For starters, don’t panic.

When you’re buying a home, the mortgage rate matters, but it shouldn’t monopolize your attention, says Robert Frick, corporate economist for Navy Federal Credit Union. “You shouldn’t focus on the rate and let that scare you into making a hasty decision about buying a house,” he says.

How rising rates affect your monthly payment

The average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.54% on Feb. 16, 2018, according to NerdWallet’s daily rate survey. It averaged 3.99% on Sept. 26, 2017 — meaning it has gone up more than half a percentage point in less than five months.

While a half-point increase doesn’t have a major impact on the monthly payment, the added cost does add up over time. On a 30-year loan for $200,000, the monthly payment would be nearly $59 more at a 4.5% interest rate than at a 4% interest rate. That adds up to more than $21,000 over 30 years.

What to do when rates rise

Mortgage rate fluctuations have been catching home buyers off guard for generations. Your forebears have developed tried-and-true strategies to cope with rising rates. Here are some things you can do when mortgage rates trend higher:

No. 1: Lock your mortgage rate. With a mortgage rate lock, the lender promises a defined combo of interest rate and points. If you close the home loan by the specified date, the rate can’t go up. You can use this tactic after the lender has approved you for a mortgage for a specific house. Some lenders offer a one-time “float down” option allowing you to secure a lower interest rate if rates go down; this option is more common for construction loans and long-term rate locks.

No. 2: Buy “points” to reduce the interest rate. If you have the cash, you can pay for discount points — in effect, prepaying some of the interest in exchange for a lower mortgage rate. One point equals 1% of the loan amount. The discount you get for one point varies as mortgage rates fluctuate. But as a rule of thumb, paying one point often gives a rate cut of one-quarter of a percentage point.

No. 3: Revise your price range. A higher mortgage rate brings higher monthly payments. When you begin your home search, determine a range of interest rates that will still allow you to afford the type of home you want without stretching your budget past the point of reason. Or, rising rates might force you to adjust your home-price range downward. Start with this loan affordability calculator and click “Edit rate” on the right side.

Why rates are rising now

This recent rise in mortgage rates arrived in two stages:

  • The first happened in the weeks after the passage of tax reform in late December
  • The second happened Feb. 2, 2018, when the January employment report indicated that hourly wages had risen 2.9% compared with 12 months before

The tax cuts and the wage report were both regarded as inflationary, because when people have more money in their pockets, they tend to spend it, driving up prices. (Classic supply and demand.) And higher inflation tends to bring higher interest rates for everything, including mortgages.

On top of that, futures traders expect the Federal Reserve to raise short-term interest rates at least two, if not three, times this year, which could exert upward pressure on long-term mortgage rates.

Frick says businesses and governments around the world are ramping up their borrowing. As they compete with one another to borrow money, they bid up interest rates. This upward pressure trickles down to consumers, who end up paying higher interest rates for everything from credit cards to mortgages.

Are higher rates the ‘new normal’?

Talk to any housing economist about mortgage rates, and you’ll hear that rates have been abnormally low in the decade since the housing crash.

“I remember in the mid-’90s, getting a 7% rate, being happy with that,” says Dean Baker, senior economist and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “The rates we’re looking at today are still, by any measure, pretty low. So it’s basically the economy getting back closer to normal.”

Frick says: “People have gotten kind of lulled into these low rates, and a lot of people think this is normal, but this is not normal. We’re returning to normal, and that’s still going to be a painful process because we’ve gotten used to low rates.”

HOLDEN LEWIS

Filed Under: Eastside Real Estate Blog, Finances, First Time Homeowner, Homeownership, Issaquah Real Estate, Larry and Kathy Reichle Tagged With: Finances, Home ownership, Interest Rates, monthly payment, Taxes

We look forward to hearing from you Cancel reply

Eastside Real Estate Blog

The Cost Of Purchasing A Home In The U.S. Increased 55% Last Year. But It’s Still A Great Time To Buy A House For These Five Reasons

I’ve always been all-in on homeownership. Yet, for the first time in two decades since the beginning … [Read More...]

New Listings Signal Hope Is On The Horizon For Home Buyers

At the midpoint of April, housing markets are reflecting a changing landscape, according to a new … [Read More...]

Upscale Kitchen Features That Can Boost A Home’s Value

Between preparing to host family and friends for Thanksgiving and making gift lists and checking … [Read More...]

Contact Us

Issaquah real estate

Larry & Kathy Reichle

371 NE Gilman Blvd. #160
Issaquah, WA 98027

Phone: 206-999-1690

Contact Us

Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice (DMCA)

Real Estate Tools

  • Search AccountCreate your Custom Home Search Account
  • Map ViewSearch For Eastside Real Estate With A Map Style Search
  • Email AlertsSign Up To Get New Listings Delivered To You via Email
  • My Home’s ValueCustom Tool To Get the Accurate Price of your Home

Eastside Real Estate Blog

The Cost Of Purchasing A Home In The U.S. Increased 55% Last Year. But It’s Still A Great Time To Buy A House For These Five Reasons

I’ve always been all-in on homeownership. Yet, for the first time in two decades … Read More

New Listings Signal Hope Is On The Horizon For Home Buyers

At the midpoint of April, housing markets are reflecting a changing landscape, … Read More

Real Estate in the Pacific Northwest

Real Estate in the Pacific Northwest

  • Aberdeen, WA Real Estate
  • Acme, WA Real Estate
  • Addy, WA Real Estate
  • Adna, WA Real Estate
  • Airway Heights, WA Real Estate
  • Alger, WA Real Estate
  • Algona, WA Real Estate
  • Allyn, WA Real Estate
  • Aloha, WA Real Estate
  • Amanda Park, WA Real Estate
  • Amboy, WA Real Estate
  • Anacortes, WA Real Estate
  • Anderson Island, WA Real Estate
  • Appleton, WA Real Estate
  • Ardenvoir, WA Real Estate
  • Ariel, WA Real Estate
  • Arlington, WA Real Estate
  • Ashford, WA Real Estate
  • Auburn, WA Real Estate
  • Bainbridge Island, WA Real Estate
  • Baring, WA Real Estate
  • Battle Ground, WA Real Estate
  • Bay Center, WA Real Estate
  • Beaux Arts, WA Real Estate
  • Beaver, WA Real Estate
  • Belfair, WA Real Estate
  • Bellevue, WA Real Estate
  • Bellingham, WA Real Estate
  • Benton City, WA Real Estate
  • Beverly, WA Real Estate
  • Bickleton, WA Real Estate
  • Birch Bay, WA Real Estate
  • Black Diamond, WA Real Estate
  • Blaine, WA Real Estate
  • Blakely Island, WA Real Estate
  • Boistfort, WA Real Estate
  • Bonney Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Bothell, WA Real Estate
  • Bow, WA Real Estate
  • Brady, WA Real Estate
  • Bremerton, WA Real Estate
  • Brewster, WA Real Estate
  • Bridgeport, WA Real Estate
  • Brier, WA Real Estate
  • Brinnon, WA Real Estate
  • Brush Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Buckley, WA Real Estate
  • Bucoda, WA Real Estate
  • Burien, WA Real Estate
  • Burlington, WA Real Estate
  • Camano Island, WA Real Estate
  • Camas, WA Real Estate
  • Carbonado, WA Real Estate
  • Carlsborg, WA Real Estate
  • Carlton, WA Real Estate
  • Carnation, WA Real Estate
  • Carrolls, WA Real Estate
  • Cashmere, WA Real Estate
  • Castle Rock, WA Real Estate
  • Cathlamet, WA Real Estate
  • Center Island, WA Real Estate
  • Centerville, WA Real Estate
  • Centralia, WA Real Estate
  • Chehalis, WA Real Estate
  • Chelan, WA Real Estate
  • Chelan Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Cheney, WA Real Estate
  • Chimacum, WA Real Estate
  • Chinook, WA Real Estate
  • Cinebar, WA Real Estate
  • Clallam Bay, WA Real Estate
  • Cle Elum, WA Real Estate
  • Clearlake, WA Real Estate
  • Clinton, WA Real Estate
  • Clyde Hill, WA Real Estate
  • College Place, WA Real Estate
  • Colville, WA Real Estate
  • Conconully, WA Real Estate
  • Concrete, WA Real Estate
  • Connell, WA Real Estate
  • Conway, WA Real Estate
  • Copalis Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Copalis Crossing, WA Real Estate
  • Cosmopolis, WA Real Estate
  • Cougar, WA Real Estate
  • Coulee City, WA Real Estate
  • Coulee Dam, WA Real Estate
  • Coupeville, WA Real Estate
  • Covington, WA Real Estate
  • Crane Island, WA Real Estate
  • Creston, WA Real Estate
  • Curlew, WA Real Estate
  • Curtis, WA Real Estate
  • Custer, WA Real Estate
  • Cypress Island, WA Real Estate
  • Danville, WA Real Estate
  • Darrington, WA Real Estate
  • Davenport, WA Real Estate
  • Decatur Island, WA Real Estate
  • Deer Meadows, WA Real Estate
  • Deming, WA Real Estate
  • Des Moines, WA Real Estate
  • Doty, WA Real Estate
  • Dryad, WA Real Estate
  • Dupont, WA Real Estate
  • Duvall, WA Real Estate
  • East Olympia, WA Real Estate
  • East Wenatchee, WA Real Estate
  • Easton, WA Real Estate
  • Eatonville, WA Real Estate
  • Edgewood, WA Real Estate
  • Edison, WA Real Estate
  • Edmonds, WA Real Estate
  • Elbe, WA Real Estate
  • Electric City, WA Real Estate
  • Ellensburg, WA Real Estate
  • Elma, WA Real Estate
  • Elmer City, WA Real Estate
  • Entiat, WA Real Estate
  • Enumclaw, WA Real Estate
  • Ephrata, WA Real Estate
  • Ethel, WA Real Estate
  • Everett, WA Real Estate
  • Everson, WA Real Estate
  • Fall City, WA Real Estate
  • Federal Way, WA Real Estate
  • Ferndale, WA Real Estate
  • Fife, WA Real Estate
  • Fircrest, WA Real Estate
  • Ford, WA Real Estate
  • Forks, WA Real Estate
  • Fox Island, WA Real Estate
  • Freeland, WA Real Estate
  • Fruitland, WA Real Estate
  • Gardiner, WA Real Estate
  • George, WA Real Estate
  • Gig Harbor, WA Real Estate
  • Glacier, WA Real Estate
  • Glenoma, WA Real Estate
  • Gold Bar, WA Real Estate
  • Goldendale, WA Real Estate
  • Goose Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Graham, WA Real Estate
  • Grand Coulee, WA Real Estate
  • Grand Mound, WA Real Estate
  • Grandview, WA Real Estate
  • Granite Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Grapeview, WA Real Estate
  • Grayland, WA Real Estate
  • Grays River, WA Real Estate
  • Greenbank, WA Real Estate
  • Greenwater, WA Real Estate
  • Guemes Island, WA Real Estate
  • Hansville, WA Real Estate
  • Harrah, WA Real Estate
  • Harrington, WA Real Estate
  • Hartline, WA Real Estate
  • Henry Island, WA Real Estate
  • Hobart, WA Real Estate
  • Hoodsport, WA Real Estate
  • Hoquiam, WA Real Estate
  • Humptulips, WA Real Estate
  • Hunters, WA Real Estate
  • Hunts Point, WA Real Estate
  • Ilwaco, WA Real Estate
  • Index, WA Real Estate
  • Indianola, WA Real Estate
  • Ione, WA Real Estate
  • Issaquah, WA Real Estate
  • Juanita, WA Real Estate
  • Kalama, WA Real Estate
  • Kapowsin, WA Real Estate
  • Keller, WA Real Estate
  • Kelso, WA Real Estate
  • Kendall, WA Real Estate
  • Kenmore, WA Real Estate
  • Kent, WA Real Estate
  • Kettle Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Keyport, WA Real Estate
  • Kingston, WA Real Estate
  • Kirkland, WA Real Estate
  • Kittitas, WA Real Estate
  • La Center, WA Real Estate
  • La Conner, WA Real Estate
  • Lacey, WA Real Estate
  • Lake City, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Forest Park, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Stevens, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Tapps, WA Real Estate
  • Lakebay, WA Real Estate
  • Lakewood, WA Real Estate
  • Langley, WA Real Estate
  • Leavenworth, WA Real Estate
  • Lebam, WA Real Estate
  • Lilliwaup, WA Real Estate
  • Lincoln, WA Real Estate
  • Lind, WA Real Estate
  • Long Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Longbranch, WA Real Estate
  • Longview, WA Real Estate
  • Loomis, WA Real Estate
  • Loon Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Lopez Island, WA Real Estate
  • Lummi Island, WA Real Estate
  • Lyle, WA Real Estate
  • Lyman, WA Real Estate
  • Lynden, WA Real Estate
  • Lynnwood, WA Real Estate
  • Machias, WA Real Estate
  • Malaga, WA Real Estate
  • Malo, WA Real Estate
  • Malone, WA Real Estate
  • Malott, WA Real Estate
  • Manchester, WA Real Estate
  • Mansfield, WA Real Estate
  • Manson, WA Real Estate
  • Maple Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Maple Valley, WA Real Estate
  • Marblemount, WA Real Estate
  • Marlin, WA Real Estate
  • Marysville, WA Real Estate
  • Mattawa, WA Real Estate
  • Mazama, WA Real Estate
  • McCleary, WA Real Estate
  • McKenna, WA Real Estate
  • Medical Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Medina, WA Real Estate
  • Mercer Island, WA Real Estate
  • Metaline Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Methow, WA Real Estate
  • Mill Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Milton, WA Real Estate
  • Mineral, WA Real Estate
  • Moclips, WA Real Estate
  • Monitor, WA Real Estate
  • Monroe, WA Real Estate
  • Montesano, WA Real Estate
  • Morton, WA Real Estate
  • Moses Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Mossyrock, WA Real Estate
  • Mount Vernon, WA Real Estate
  • Mountlake Terrace, WA Real Estate
  • Moxee, WA Real Estate
  • Mukilteo, WA Real Estate
  • Naches, WA Real Estate
  • Nahcotta, WA Real Estate
  • Napavine, WA Real Estate
  • Naselle, WA Real Estate
  • Neilton, WA Real Estate
  • Nespelem, WA Real Estate
  • Newcastle, WA Real Estate
  • Newport, WA Real Estate
  • Nooksack, WA Real Estate
  • Nordland, WA Real Estate
  • Normandy Park, WA Real Estate
  • North Bend, WA Real Estate
  • North Cove, WA Real Estate
  • Northport, WA Real Estate
  • Oak Harbor, WA Real Estate
  • Oakville, WA Real Estate
  • Obstruction Island, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean City, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean Park, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean Shores, WA Real Estate
  • Ocosta, WA Real Estate
  • Odessa, WA Real Estate
  • Okanogan, WA Real Estate
  • Olalla, WA Real Estate
  • Olympia, WA Real Estate
  • Omak, WA Real Estate
  • Onalaska, WA Real Estate
  • Orcas Island, WA Real Estate
  • Orondo, WA Real Estate
  • Oroville, WA Real Estate
  • Orting, WA Real Estate
  • Othello, WA Real Estate
  • Outlook, WA Real Estate
  • Oyhat, WA Real Estate
  • Oysterville, WA Real Estate
  • Pacific, WA Real Estate
  • Pacific Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Packwood, WA Real Estate
  • Parkland, WA Real Estate
  • Pasco, WA Real Estate
  • Pateros, WA Real Estate
  • Pe Ell, WA Real Estate
  • Pearl Island, WA Real Estate
  • Peshastin, WA Real Estate
  • Point Roberts, WA Real Estate
  • Port Angeles, WA Real Estate
  • Port Hadlock, WA Real Estate
  • Port Ludlow, WA Real Estate
  • Port Orchard, WA Real Estate
  • Port Townsend, WA Real Estate
  • Poulsbo, WA Real Estate
  • Preston, WA Real Estate
  • Prosser, WA Real Estate
  • Pullman, WA Real Estate
  • Purdy, WA Real Estate
  • Puyallup, WA Real Estate
  • Quilcene, WA Real Estate
  • Quinault, WA Real Estate
  • Quincy, WA Real Estate
  • Rainier, WA Real Estate
  • Randle, WA Real Estate
  • Ravensdale, WA Real Estate
  • Raymond, WA Real Estate
  • Reardan, WA Real Estate
  • Redmond, WA Real Estate
  • Renton, WA Real Estate
  • Republic, WA Real Estate
  • Rice, WA Real Estate
  • Richland, WA Real Estate
  • Ridgefield, WA Real Estate
  • Ritzville, WA Real Estate
  • Riverside, WA Real Estate
  • Rochester, WA Real Estate
  • Rock Island, WA Real Estate
  • Rockport, WA Real Estate
  • Ronald, WA Real Estate
  • Rosburg, WA Real Estate
  • Roslyn, WA Real Estate
  • Roy, WA Real Estate
  • Royal City, WA Real Estate
  • Ruston, WA Real Estate
  • Ryderwood, WA Real Estate
  • Salkum, WA Real Estate
  • Sammamish, WA Real Estate
  • San Juan Island, WA Real Estate
  • Satsop, WA Real Estate
  • Seabeck, WA Real Estate
  • Seatac, WA Real Estate
  • Seattle, WA Real Estate
  • Seaview, WA Real Estate
  • Sedro Woolley, WA Real Estate
  • Sekiu, WA Real Estate
  • Selah, WA Real Estate
  • Sequim, WA Real Estate
  • Seven Bays, WA Real Estate
  • Shaw Island, WA Real Estate
  • Shelton, WA Real Estate
  • Shoreline, WA Real Estate
  • Silver Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Silverdale, WA Real Estate
  • Silverlake, WA Real Estate
  • Skamokawa, WA Real Estate
  • Skykomish, WA Real Estate
  • Snohomish, WA Real Estate
  • Snoqualmie, WA Real Estate
  • Snoqualmie Pass, WA Real Estate
  • Soap Lake, WA Real Estate
  • South Bend, WA Real Estate
  • South Cle Elum, WA Real Estate
  • South Colby, WA Real Estate
  • South Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Southworth, WA Real Estate
  • Spanaway, WA Real Estate
  • Spokane, WA Real Estate
  • Spokane Valley, WA Real Estate
  • Springdale, WA Real Estate
  • Stanwood, WA Real Estate
  • Stehekin, WA Real Estate
  • Steilacoom, WA Real Estate
  • Stevenson, WA Real Estate
  • Stuart Island, WA Real Estate
  • Sultan, WA Real Estate
  • Sumas, WA Real Estate
  • Sumner, WA Real Estate
  • Suquamish, WA Real Estate
  • Tacoma, WA Real Estate
  • Taholah, WA Real Estate
  • Tahuya, WA Real Estate
  • Tenino, WA Real Estate
  • Thornton, WA Real Estate
  • Thorp, WA Real Estate
  • Tieton, WA Real Estate
  • Tokeland, WA Real Estate
  • Toledo, WA Real Estate
  • Tonasket, WA Real Estate
  • Toppenish, WA Real Estate
  • Touchet, WA Real Estate
  • Toutle, WA Real Estate
  • Tracyton, WA Real Estate
  • Tukwila, WA Real Estate
  • Tulalip, WA Real Estate
  • Tumtum, WA Real Estate
  • Tumwater, WA Real Estate
  • Twisp, WA Real Estate
  • Union, WA Real Estate
  • University Place, WA Real Estate
  • Usk, WA Real Estate
  • Vader, WA Real Estate
  • Vancouver, WA Real Estate
  • Vantage, WA Real Estate
  • Vashon, WA Real Estate
  • Vaughn, WA Real Estate
  • Waitsburg, WA Real Estate
  • Waldron Island, WA Real Estate
  • Walla Walla, WA Real Estate
  • Wapato, WA Real Estate
  • Warden, WA Real Estate
  • Washougal, WA Real Estate
  • Washtucna, WA Real Estate
  • Waterville, WA Real Estate
  • Wauconda, WA Real Estate
  • Wauna, WA Real Estate
  • Wenatchee, WA Real Estate
  • Westport, WA Real Estate
  • White Pass, WA Real Estate
  • White Salmon, WA Real Estate
  • Wilbur, WA Real Estate
  • Wilkeson, WA Real Estate
  • Wilson Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Winlock, WA Real Estate
  • Winthrop, WA Real Estate
  • Woodinville, WA Real Estate
  • Woodland, WA Real Estate
  • Woodway, WA Real Estate
  • Yacolt, WA Real Estate
  • Yakima, WA Real Estate
  • Yarrow Point, WA Real Estate
  • Yelm, WA Real Estate
  • Zillah, WA Real Estate

CRS logoCRS logoCRS logoCRS logo

Copyright © 2023 | XML Sitemap | Sitemap |Privacy Policy

Designed by Om Spark LLC

Copyright © 2023 · Curb Appeal Evolved on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...