Mortgage Market Minute: February 2010

You've heard a lot over the last several months about historically low home loan rates...but lately, you've probably been hearing the buzz that interest rates may be heading up in the near future, due in part to the Fed ending their purchases of Mortgage Backed Securities. All of this begs the question: How and why do rates move...and what is happening right now? The answer involves a number of factors and can seem complex. But it doesn't have to be! To help you understand how interest rates move, take a look at this easy to understand video. You'll learn what the Fed has been doing to keep rates low, as well as the connection between interest rates and Mortgage Backed Securities. Take a look at the following video now for an easy explanation:

Pasadena City Hall will serve as the backdrop for the most difficult stage the cyclists have ever seen in the five year history of the Amgen Tour of California. After crossing the Colorado Street Bridge and passing by the Rose Bowl, the route will wind through the City of La Canada Flintridge. From there, the riders are on a 135 mile odyssey with more than 12,000 feet of climbing. The race will climb to a high point of nearly 8,000 feet as it rolls along the Angeles Crest Highway. Then, there is a brief respite as they descend to Wrightwood and then over to Highway 138. The route again goes vertical as it passes through Crestline and Lake Arrowhead, as they enter onto "Rim of the World" highway. Entering the Big Bear area, the riders will take the northern route around Big Bear Lake and then tackle the last ascent to the finish at a more than 7,000 foot elevation at the Snow Summit ski area for the first-ever mountaintop finish in the Amgen Tour of California.