Settling in Montana means that you have access to beautiful countryside and an amazing place to live. However, there are always some things that you have to think about when owning and maintaining property, no matter where it might be. One of these will always be the mortgage rate that you pay. Is this going to rise in Montana anytime soon? Let’s take a closer look.
Mortgage Rates Have Leveled Out
Thus far, we have nationally enjoyed mortgage rates levelling out. Mortgage rates as a whole have been pushed down since the start of 2020. For 30-year mortgages, the rate really has been dropping unlike anything we have seen before. They have even dipped below 3%. In January 2021, they reached the bottom of their dive and hit 2.65%. Since then, they have been hovering around 3%.
It has been great to see them fall so low, and many people have taken advantage of them to find their dream property. However, all good things must end. It is not going to be a surprise if we see the mortgage rates rise in the future, and it is quite likely that we will see a rise of some sort sooner than you might think.
Why Has This Happened?
Mortgage rates dropped rapidly when the Federal Reserve announced that it would be dropping its short-term rates to zero. It also announced that it would buy mortgage-backed bonds. This course is likely to stay in place for some time yet. It is thought that interest rates will stay at this low level until at least 2023, though the Fed might decide that it wants to pull back on bond purchases before this.
This is one of the primary roles of the Fed. They exist to, amongst other responsibilities, monitor and address any banking panics that might appear. The dollar is designed to be an elastic currency, and this means that there are several things that the Fed can do to keep things stable.
What Can You Do to Take Advantage of the Low Rates?
If you are thinking about buying or mortgaging, now is going to be the time to do it. The mortgage rates in Montana are not going to rise at the moment, but they are in the future. You should try to find the best mortgage rates that you can now, while they are on the lower side.
You should also try to look for a fixed rate if you can. Then, even if rates do rise, they are not going to rise out of your control. Too many people end up not able to pay their mortgage rates because they rise higher than people might realise. Instead, it can be better to ensure that you are going to be able to meet whatever the payment threshold might be, no matter how the mortgage rates might chop and change at the time.
When Will We See Changes to Mortgage Rates Happen?
The Fed has already begun to taper their mortgage-backed securities and other activities. With this has come an inevitable rise in mortgage rates across the country. Rates have crept above 3% and we are likely to see them climb again. They are likely to be quite volatile for a while, so it is important to keep an eye on them to watch how they might climb and fall until it seems like they are going to be stable once more.
Montana has a smaller population compared to some of the other states in the USA, making for a wonderful place to make your home, but this inevitably means that there might be some knock-on effects felt. There is more of a chance that mortgage rates will not rise as much as in other states because the population is smaller, and there is less of a housing demand compared to other states.
If you are thinking about buying a property in Montana, or you want to re-mortgage yours soon, now would be the ideal time to do it. There are low mortgage rates, but they are really not going to last forever. You need to make sure that you look through the options available to you right now, and then jump on them when you find one that works for you. Don’t be complacent – these low mortgage rates are not going to last forever. Even in a slower market like Montana’s, they are likely to rise faster than you might imagine. Make sure that you do not get caught out by rising rates.