Federal Reserve
and Rates

What causes current mortgage interest rates?

Many borrowers ask why mortgage interest rates don't immediately drop when the Federal Reserve cuts prime rates.

As the country's economy consistently goes up and down, the Federal Reserve evaluates the changes and takes steps, increases or decreases prime rates, to address rapid inflation or economic recessions.

While the Federal Reserve's actions have a direct impact on the prime rate, mortgage rates are determined by the trading of mortgage-backed securities (stocks and bonds). This means that the real dynamic at the center of the interest rate shift is the competitive relationship between stocks and bonds.

As stocks, bonds and mortgage-back securities battle for the same investment dollars on a daily basis, only so much money is available to be invested. When the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates to stimulate the economy, the decrease in rates often causes a stock market rally. And when the market rallies, the money to invest in stocks comes from the sale of other investments, including mortgage-backed securities.

Unfortunately, when mortgage-backed securities are sold off to trigger stock market rallies, this causes interest rates to go up, not down.

Get a mortgage quote.
Apply for a home loan online today.
Learn more about our types of mortgage loans.