How Do Banks Determine Mortgage Interest Rates?

www.bestsyndication.com Have you ever wondered why banks continually change mortgage interest rates? There are many factors that help lenders determine both fixed rate and ARM mortgages. This video will explain how the interest rate is determined. There are many factors that affect mortgage rates including government bonds, rates that the government sponsored enterprise charge and the London Interbank Offered Rate. In this information program, we will discuss how these benchmarks are used to help bankers determine mortgage rates. One common benchmark cited for determining mortgage rates is the Federal Funds rate. This is the rate that banks charge other banks for overnight operations. That rate is currently in a range between zero and 0.25 percent. The discount rate is the Federal Reserve’s primary interest rate. This is the rate that the Federal Reserve, also known as our central bank, charges member banks. Unlike the Federal Funds rate, the Federal Reserve Bank has absolute power in determining this interest rate. The current primary rate for the member banks is 0.75 percent. Banks that are not eligible for this primary rate are charged 1.25 percent. A third seasonal rate is for small depository institutions that need to meet seasonal requirements. The Prime Rate is what banks charge their best customers, usually corporations and large companies. This rate is typically 2.5 to 3 percent above the Federal Funds rate. These rates rarely change, so why do mortgage rates …

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