Frank Nothaft Remain Quotations

Mortgage rates continued to set records. Interest rates remain the lowest in Freddie Mac history; indeed, they are the lowest we have seen since 1967.

With mortgage rates low and consumer confidence high, Freddie Mac economists expect the housing market to remain strong in the months ahead.

As the economy continues to show signs that the recession is ending, the housing market continues to expand thanks, in large part, to current low mortgage rates. And as long as inflation is not an issue in the economy, lending rates should remain around 7 percent.

It was no great surprise that housing starts rose for the second time in three months since mortgage rates in November reached levels not seen since the mid-1960s. Since mortgage rates are not expected to increase significantly, we remain confident that the housing industry will continue to be alive and active well into 2003.

The escalating tensions within the U.N. over the impending resolution on Iraq and dismal economic news this week sent the stock market tumbling and with it went bond and mortgage rates. The high volatility is likely to remain for a while. But since there are no upward pressures at the moment, any sustained rise in rates in highly unlikely.