Orange County Housing Report

OC Housing Report

Interest Rates | Lock It In!

The current 30-year mortgage rate is at 2.7%, a 14th record low since March

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day are all days that countless Americans look forward to cashing in on the very best deals of the year. From flatscreen televisions to blenders to puffy winter jackets, prices are slashed, and eager shoppers line up to take advantage of the mind-blowing discounts. Many stores carry a limited quantity, so if “you snooze, you lose.” For 2020, those days are in the past and it will not be until the end of 2021 when they return.

Today’s mortgage rates are at a record low and they offer the very best deal of the year. Soon, that deal will vanish, and rates will rise, which will impact monthly payments and affordability. Many think the Federal Reserve is in charge of setting mortgage rates, but that is not true. Instead, they set the short term fed funds rate, currently at zero. This rate affects automobile loans, credit card rates, and small business loans, also known as “short term debt.” Long term debt, or 30-year fixed mortgages, are tied closer to long term bonds. Watching any movement in U.S. 10 Year Treasury bonds will indicate where mortgage rates are headed. Prior to this year, the 10-Year has never been below 1% (it is at 0.896% today). Similarly, prior to this year, mortgage rates have never been below 3% (they are at 2.7% today).


Excerpt taken from an article by Steven Thomas.

About the Author

Tim Morissette, also known in the community as Mr. Foothill Ranch, offers over 46 years of real estate experience which has given him an established reputation and unmatched market knowledge. He is joined by his wife, Michele and sons Matt and Jeff, as they continue to offer personal service with an emphasis on achieving his clients’ real estate goals.  This unique combination of traits has led to his proven track record of referral and repeat business. This can be witnessed by the trust of homeowners in Foothill Ranch where he has sold twice as many homes and represented three times more buyers than the next-leading real estate agent for the last 26 years.

As residents of Foothill Ranch since 1994, Tim and Michele are actively involved in the community by fundraising for Foothill Ranch Library, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Cancer Society, Homes for Habitat, Relay for Life, South County Outreach, and the local church and schools. Tim enjoys sponsoring community-wide garage sales, paper shredding and e-waste recycling event, an Easter egg hunt, & a Meet Santa Event.

Tim and Michele are dedicated to their family of four sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren. As a family, they enjoy many outdoor activities which include camping, spearfishing, mountain climbing and exploring the miles of hiking and equestrian trails in Foothill Ranch and the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Tim and his sons are also avid snowboarders and enjoy mountain biking and lobster diving. Family is a top priority in the Morissette household. They look forward to helping more families achieve their dreams of homeownership.