by Alterna Mortgage | Feb 24, 2026 | Financing, Home Buying, Interest rates, Refinancing
In early January 2026 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchased up to $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The administration’s stated goal for this intervention is to increase demand for these bonds, thereby narrowing the “spread” between...
by Alterna Mortgage | Feb 21, 2026 | Inflation, Interest rates, Real Estate, Refinancing
Mortgage rates have shown significant volatility in response to tariff announcements, often moving in two stages: a brief initial drop followed by a sustained climb as inflation fears set in. When major tariffs were announced (e.g., April 2025), mortgage rates...
by Alterna Mortgage | Nov 18, 2025 | Financing, Home Buying, Interest rates, Refinancing
A portable mortgage lets you move your existing loan and its interest rate to a new property rather than getting a completely new mortgage. For example, if you’ve paid off half of a $400,000 home at a 3% interest rate, you could sell that house and transfer the...
by Alterna Mortgage | Nov 4, 2025 | Financing, Interest rates, Real Estate, Refinancing
On October 29th, 2025, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate for the second consecutive time, reducing it by a quarter point to set the target range at 3.75%-4.00%. The next opportunity for a potential rate cut will be at the upcoming Federal Open Market...
by Alterna Mortgage | Nov 2, 2025 | Financing, Interest rates, Real Estate, Refinancing
A recent proposal suggests offering 50-year loans to help buyers purchase homes and build equity. However, this plan is unlikely to succeed, as it would significantly slow down the equity growth that makes homeownership appealing. Buyers would be essentially locked in...
by Alterna Mortgage | Sep 18, 2025 | Financing, Home Buying, Housing Market, Interest rates, Real Estate, Refinancing
The Fed lowered borrowing costs by 25 basis points on September 17, 2025, a move Chair Jerome Powell framed as a “risk management” cut to bolster an increasingly fragile labor market. The decision was nearly unanimous, with the only dissent coming from Stephen Miran,...
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