mortgage rates

FNC legal analyst Bob Massi on the affect of higher mortgage rates on housing sales and the state of the housing market in Las Vegas.

Sales of previously occupied homes plunged in July despite low mortgage rates, in part because of an expired tax break, an industry group reported.

Home prices in many parts of the country scream bargain, and mortgage rates haven't been this low for decades. So why are houses across the nation sitting on the market for so long?

Mortgage rates fell to a record low for the fourth time in five weeks. But low rates haven't been enough to lift a struggling housing market.

Mortgage rates fell this week to the lowest level on record, giving consumers added incentive to lock in low payments for home purchases and refinanced loans.

U.S. mortgage rates rose for a third consecutive week, a closely watched mortgage survey showed Thursday, piercing a key 5-percent level that may deter home loan demand and hinder the housing market's recovery.

First-time buyers seized on a tax credit, combined with low mortgage rates and falling prices, to boost home sales in October to their highest level in 2 1/2 years.

With the economy starting to rebound but still fragile, Federal Reserve policymakers this week are expected to keep emergency programs to encourage spending and borrowing intact.

But to avoid unleashing inflation later on, they are likely to consider ways to rein in programs designed to keep mortgage rates down and get banks to lend more freely.

Average rates on 30-year mortgages slid to the lowest levels since May this week, Freddie Mac said.