Jumbo Loans Could Make a Comeback – Luxury home sales could rise if rates lower for jumbo loans. But lenders are going to be stricter than ever – By Prashant Gopal -  BusinessWeek 

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1.  Mortgage Rates Drop to Record Low 4.85% – … It was a lot worse in the 1981-1982 recession when mortgage rates peaked at about 18.5% in October 1981. The difference in monthly payments on a $100,000 mortgage at 18.5% ($1548) and a mortgage at today’s 4.85% ($528) is more than $1,000 per month!  … – Mark Perry’s Carpe Diem Blog

2.  Feb Housing Affordability Hits Another Record High – … A HAI of 173.5 would mean that the typical household earning the median family annual income of $59,726 in February would have 173.5% of the qualifying income to purchase a median-priced existing single-family house ($164,600) with a 20% down payment,  … – Mark Perry’s Carpe Diem Blog

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Mortgage Rates Close to ‘Bottoming,’ Koskinen Says – By Kim Chipman and Romaine Bostick – Mortgage rates are “probably as good as it’s going to get” and the housing market is likely to rebound sooner than some forecasts, Freddie Mac interim Chief Executive Officer John A. Koskinen said. “Mortgage rates, if they go down at all further, it’s going to be incremental,” Koskinen told reporters today in Washington after he met with President Barack Obama. “Interest rates are probably close to bottoming out, and therefore we are telling people” to buy a house now. -  Bloomberg