Steve Cook, Contributing Writer at loanDepot

Steve Cook

Since 2009, Steve has been the editor and co-publisher of RealEstateEconomyWatch.com, which was named as one of the top national news sites dedicated to residential real estate by the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Steve has represented and written about hundreds of domestic and international companies as well as foreign governments, national trade organizations and political campaigns. He has worked with many of the leading online real estate companies, including Move Inc., ForeclosureRadar, MRIS and Closing.com. Steve also served as vice president of public affairs for the National Association of Realtors. In 2006 and 2007, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in real estate by Inman News Service. He has been a broadcast news correspondent and served two members of Congress as press secretary. He is also a member of the National Philharmonic Chorale. Steve lives in Silver Spring, MD with his wife and two pugs, Jesse and Momo.

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Rates rise quickly as Yellen raises expectations for Fed hike

By Steve Cook

Interest rates increased this week more than they have in past five months, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Rates reached their highest level since September as speculation mounts the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in December.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Mortgage rates slip as Fed passes on rate hike again

By Steve Cook

Yesterday’s decision by the Federal Reserve’s Open Markets Committee to not change the federal funds rate, perhaps for some time, confirmed market expectations that there would be no increase this month. As a result, average fixed mortgage rates fell slightly in Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Rates fall after criticism of Wall Street executives

By Steve Cook

Interest rates fell slightly this week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, following the Federal Reserve’s criticism of Wall Street executives.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Jobs report drives rates far below a year ago

By Steve Cook

Mortgage rates tumbled this week in reaction to the very disappointing September jobs report released last Friday. Average rates moved far below their levels of a year ago and stayed below four percent for the 11th consecutive week. Rates on a 15-year fixed rate mortgaged even fell below 3 percent once again for the first time since April of this year, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.