The Federal Reserve increased short-term interest rates (known as the Federal Funds Rate) by 0.75% on September 21, 2022.  This means the Fed Funds rate is currently at 3.25%. The Fed Funds Rate is the interest rate that banks charge each other to lender/lend overnight.

It is critical to know, the Prime Rate (i.e. the interest rate the banks charge their top tier clients), is based on the Fed Funds Rate. The Prime Rate is set by large banks and is often used to determine the interest rates on lines of credit and credit cards. The formula for Prime is very simple…Fed Funds Rate plus 3. This means the Prime rate is currently 6.25%.

Raleigh Mortgage Rates 

Raleigh Mortgage rates and all mortgage rates on fixed-rate mortgages are NOT impacted by changes to the Federal Funds Rate. Raleigh mortgage rates fluctuate based on the supply and demand for mortgage bonds in the bond market. 

The Fed has been the biggest buyer of mortgage bonds in recent years with an unprecedented pandemic-era bond-buying program. Simply put, this is why there has been record low Raleigh mortgage rates recorded. The Fed is currently in the process of exiting their bond-buying programs. This unwinding is why the average interest rates on fixed-rate Raleigh mortgages have gone up by more than 3% so far this year according to data from Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of mortgage rates. 

The Martini Mortgage Group expects Raleigh mortgage rates to continue drifting higher as the Fed continues to exit its pandemic-era bond-buying programs.

HOME EQUITY LINES OF CREDIT (HELOC)

Interest rates on HELOCs change whenever the Fed changes rates. This is because HELOCs are based on the Prime Rate, which went up to 6.25%. 

HELOCs are typically quoted at Prime plus a certain percentage. For example, if your HELOC is Prime plus 1, your HELOC interest rate would be 7.25%. HELOC interest rates are likely to continue moving higher as the Fed continues to hike interest rates.

The average annual gain in home equity was $60,200 per homeowner from July 2021 to July 2022.

Raleigh Mortgage Broker Kevin Martini

Home prices have climbed 15.8% year-over-year from July 2021 to July 2022, according to the latest Home Price Insights and Homeowner Equity reports from CoreLogic, a leading global real estate data provider. If you currently have a HELOC it is important to know that it is highly probable that the Fed will continue raising the Federal Funds Rate which could significantly impact your housing costs. It may be smart to consider a ‘Cash-Out Refinance‘ right now to lock in your housing costs.

CREDIT CARDS

Interest rates on credit cards change whenever the Fed changes rates. This is because credit cards are based on the Prime Rate, which went up to 6.25%. Credit Cards are typically quoted at Prime plus a certain percentage, just like a HELOC.  For illustration, if your credit card is Prime plus 10, your credit card interest rate would be 16.25%. 

Credit card interest rates are likely to continue moving higher as the Fed continues to hike interest rates. If you have credit card debt today, perhaps you should consider ‘Cash-Out-Refinance‘ to unleash your equity and use it to payoff credit cards and other high interest debt.