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Understanding
michigan mortgage loan interest rates
Federal Reserve Bank - Controlling Mortgage Interest Rates Homeowners often become very interested in the Federal Reserve Bank system. Every time the board of directors meets, mortgage interest rates are at risk.
Federal Reserve Bank
The Federal Reserve System acts as the central bank of the United States. Created in 1913, the Federal Reserve sets monetary and financial policies for the financial industry and trades currency with foreign countries. The Federal Reserve also acts as the bank for the federal government. When you send a check in with your tax return, it ends up in the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve System is made up of 12 branch offices. The New York office is the primary office with other branches located across the country.
The primary job of the Federal Reserve is to manipulate fiscal policy. The goal is to fine-tune the economy to create a stable, predictable situation in which businesses can function. Wildly fluctuating economic keys, such as interest rates, can lead to chaos. In the late 1970's, for instance, interest rates shot up into the high teens, causing a major economic slow down.
The Federal Reserve effectively controls mortgage interest rates in a unique manner. Many people mistakenly believe interest rates are actually set by the Federal Reserve. They clearly are not. Instead, the Federal Reserve directly dictates the rates at which one bank can loan money to another. Let's take a closer look.
Every bank in the United States must hold back a percentage of its monetary assets. Put another way, the bank is forced to maintain a savings account. While this money cannot be loaned to consumers, it can be loaned to other banks. In exchange for the loan, a bank agrees to pay back the loan at an interest rate known as the federal funds rate. The Federal Reserve determines the federal funds rate. When you here Alan Greenspan has increase the rate a quarter point, this is what they are talking about.
You are probably wondering how the federal funds rate could possible impact mortgage rates. While there is no direct link, there is a practical one. Banks universally react to the federal funds rate, particularly whether it was raised or lowered. If the federal funds rate is raised a quarter point, you can expect mortgage rates to move up a bit. The bond market also impacts mortgage rates, which is why you will not see the exact same movement as occurs with the federal funds rate.
The Federal Reserve System makes a major effort to maintain a low profile. Most people, however, feel it is the real power behind the economy, not politicians.
About the author:
Dan Lewis is with http://www.gwhomeloans.com - a San Diego mortgage brokers providing San Diego home loans. Visit http://www.gwhomeloans.com/services.html to learn more about options on San Diego mortgages from a San Diego mortgage broker company.
More Useful Resource and Updates on michigan mortgage loan interest rates
- Mortgage rates coming down, but there's risks in fixing too long (The New Zealand Herald)
Mortgage rates are coming down, say ASB economists, making it risky to fix an interest rate for too long. In its Home Loan Rate Report, the bank lays out the pros and cons of taking out mortgages for varying terms.
- NAB cuts home loan rates (Adelaide Now)
NAB has reduced its standard variable home loan rate by 62 basis points, a day after the Reserve Bank cut official interest rates by 0.75 of a percentage point.
- Westpac cuts home loan rates (Adelaide Now)
WESTPAC has cut its home loan rates by 65 basis points, after the Reserve Bank yesterday cut the official interest rate by 0.75 percentage points to 5.25 per cent.
- Commonwealth Bank reduces home loan interest rates by 0.58% (Thaipr.net)
The Commonwealth Bank announced that it was reducing its standard variable home loan interest rate by 0.58% pa. This cut in home loan interest rates follows the Bank's previous interest rate cut of 0.
- Westpac cuts home loan rates (Herald Sun)
WESTPAC has cut its home loan rates by 65 basis points following yesterday's rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
- Commonwealth Bank says to cut mortgage rate by 0.58% (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
SYDNEY, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Commonwealth Bank of Australia , the nation's No. 2 lender, said it would reduce its standard variable home loan interest rate by 0.58 percent, following the central bank's 0.75 percent rate cut.
- Business briefs: 30-year mortgage rate stays the same (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- The average rate for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage on a owner-occupied, single-family home with 20 percent down late Monday was 6.375, the same as it was on Friday, Sarasota's Sentinel Mortgage reported.
- Westpac, NAB, ANZ cut home loan rates (The West Australian)
Westpac Banking Corporation has became the second of the four major banks to its cut its home loan rate after this week's bigger than expected easing in monetary policy. However, like Commonwealth
- St George cuts home loan rate to 7.74% (The West Australian)
St George Bank Ltd has cut its standard variable mortgage interest rate by 62 basis points. The rate will fall to 7.74 per cent, from November 14. The move follows the decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday to lower the official cash rate by 75 basis points to 5.25 per cent.
- Westpac, NAB cut home loan rates (Daily Telegraph)
WESTPAC and NAB have cut home loan rates, but by not as much as the RBA's 75 basis point cut yesterday.
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