Faramarz Moeen-Ziai - FMZ Loans

10/09/2026

Could the recent surge in mortgage rates finally be losing momentum?

After weeks of climbing borrowing costs, the bond market showed signs of a shift. Thursday delivered the largest single-day mortgage rate improvement in three months, followed by additional gains Friday that brought rates to their lowest levels in two weeks.

What makes this development particularly interesting is the growing demand for bonds. Investors appear increasingly willing to buy at current levels, potentially helping prevent rates from climbing much further.

That doesn't mean rates are guaranteed to keep falling. Next week's Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports will be important tests of whether this improvement can continue.

It's an encouraging development for the housing market, but one that still needs confirmation from upcoming economic data.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

Mortgage rates finally had a better week, with Thursday bringing the biggest daily drop in 3 months and Friday adding enough improvement to claim the lowest levels in 2 weeks. Granted, "2-week lows...

10/02/2026

Friday morning seemed to bring exactly the kind of news mortgage rates needed: job growth came in much lower than expected.

Rates initially responded favorably—but the improvement didn’t last.

The reason lies deeper in the jobs report. Markets have become less focused on the monthly job count and more focused on unemployment as the labor force has changed. Once investors looked beyond the headline numbers, the report wasn’t nearly as weak as it first appeared.

Changes in European debt concerns and a moderate increase in oil prices added to the reversal, sending mortgage rates back toward the week’s higher levels by Friday afternoon.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

It's been a bumpy ride for interest rates recently, and while this week was no exception, the pace subsided slightly. Nonetheless, rates moved higher with Wednesday seeing the highest average 30yr fix...

09/27/2026

Sometimes an economic report that usually flies under the radar suddenly gets everyone’s attention.

That happened Wednesday when stronger-than-expected PMI data showed increased business activity, rising costs and stronger employment. The numbers raised concerns that the economy may be stronger—and inflation pressures more persistent—than markets had anticipated.

The reaction was significant. Bond yields jumped, expectations for future Fed rate hikes increased, and mortgage rates came close to 7.5%.

Rates pulled back slightly by Friday afternoon, but still ended roughly a quarter point higher than the week before.

With several major economic reports coming up, we should soon have a better idea of whether this latest jump was temporary or a sign of more pressure ahead.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

At 9:44am ET on Wednesday, this week's rate story was mostly about waiting for next week's economic data. At 9:45, an unlikely report made the wait a lot more uncomfortable. The report was S&P ...

09/18/2026

The Fed raised rates this week. So why didn't mortgage rates make a major move?

Because the financial markets had largely anticipated the decision before Wednesday’s announcement.

The bigger reaction came about 30 minutes later, when Fed Chair Kevin Warsh spoke about the possibility of additional rate hikes. Mortgage rates jumped during the press conference, then recovered much of that move the following day.

It’s an important distinction when following mortgage rates: what the Fed actually does matters, but what markets expect the Fed to do next can matter just as much.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

It's a common refrain in this newsletter: The Fed does not hike/cut mortgage rates and the two can often move in opposite directions in the short-term. Mortgage rates were already surging above 7% ...

09/11/2026

Several forces pushed in the same direction this week—and mortgage rates felt the pressure.

Rising oil prices added to inflation concerns, while Treasury market activity and new inflation data created additional challenges. By the end of the week, the average top-tier 30-year fixed rate had risen almost a quarter point and reached its highest level since early 2025.

Attention now turns to Wednesday’s Fed meeting. Markets are already anticipating a possible quarter-point hike, making the Fed’s economic projections and comments about what may come next especially important.

For buyers watching rates closely, the coming days could bring more movement as markets digest the Fed decision alongside continued oil-price and geopolitical uncertainty.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

Mortgage rates moved sharply higher this week, ultimately reaching their highest levels since early 2025. Most of the damage took place on Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday ultimately made things sli...

09/04/2026

There was more to this week’s rate story than the 15-month high.

Oil prices and global headlines pushed mortgage rates higher, but by Thursday the market began showing signs of resistance. Comments from Fed Governor Chris Waller reduced some expectations for an upcoming Fed rate hike, helping bring a little relief.

Then Friday delivered a surprisingly strong jobs report. Normally, a report that strong could send rates sharply higher—but this time, the reaction was much more contained.

Now the focus shifts to next week’s inflation data, which could play a major role in whether rates move away from—or back toward—recent highs.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

Mortgage rates hit their highest level since June 2025 this week. While that milestone sounds ominous, it was the product of gradual movement and logical motivations. Monday brought a modest, incre...

08/21/2026

Sometimes the biggest headline isn't the biggest story.

A Treasury bond buyback announcement briefly pushed longer-term yields—and mortgage rates—lower this week. But that improvement didn't last. Rising oil prices returned as a more significant influence, and mortgage rates finished the week moderately higher.

The takeaway: short-term market reactions can create plenty of noise, but they don't always signal a lasting change in the direction of rates.

Next week's economic reports and the Fed's Jackson Hole conference could provide a clearer picture of what comes next.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

Mortgage rates ended the week moderately higher, but things could have been slightly worse without Wednesday's surprisingly sharp drop in longer-term Treasury yields (a key benchmark for mortgage...

08/17/2026

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08/15/2026

A rough start to the week turned into some welcome relief.

Rising oil prices initially put upward pressure on rates, but Thursday’s inflation report changed the direction of the market. Producer prices came in slightly below expectations, helping mortgage rates fall to their lowest levels in about four weeks.

Friday’s economic data added a few complications, but rates still finished near their best levels since July 17.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected].

Rates may still be elevated in a general sense, but by the end of the week, they were as low as they've been since July 17th. If we have one thing to thank, it was this week's inflation data. Thing...

08/07/2026

A little breathing room for buyers this week.

Falling oil prices helped ease pressure on mortgage rates through much of the week, and Friday brought another boost when the latest jobs report showed far fewer jobs created than expected.

The result: mortgage rates finished the week at their lowest levels since July 20.

One week doesn’t establish a new trend, but after the recent stretch of higher rates, the move lower is certainly a welcome development.

For any specific questions or to discuss your scenario, please email [email protected]

Mortgage rates moved lower almost every day this week with most of the help coming from war-related headlines and a last-minute boost from the jobs report. Rates are driven by bonds and the bond ma...