Good news from Treasury bills
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: But there’s also good news in this economy for certain adjustable-rate loans. Marketplace’s Jeff Tyler explains.
Jeff Tyler: Some adjustable-rate mortgages are tied to Treasury bonds. When the yield on T-bills goes up, the mortgage can reset at a higher interest rate.
The converse is also true, as we’re seeing now. With the stock market collapsing, many investors sought refuge in the safety of Treasury bills. The increased demand brought bond yields down, and homeowners with related adjustable-rate mortgages are reaping the benefits.
Tom Lawler: So for those people, their interest rate might actually be going down.
That’s consultant Tom Lawler, who tracks the housing industry. Even if your mortgage is not tied to Treasury notes, Lawler says, it’s a good time to talk to your lender about refinancing.
Lawler: Because the level of interest rates has come down so much, the probability of being able to get at least some help for troubled borrowers has actually increased considerably in the last two weeks.
Also increasing: the number of people picking fixed-rate mortgages. They’re at a 20-year high.
I’m Jeff Tyler for Marketplace.
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