Private sector job losses in September take on added importance with the official government report delayed by the shutdown. In housing, contract signings rose in August as lower rates sparked demand.

In three of the last four months, ADP’s private employment figure has gone backwards. In other words, the economy is losing jobs on a net basis. That doesn’t sound like a ‘solid’ job market to me.

After months of steady declines, the MBS Highway National Housing Index bounced back – climbing 3 points to 27. This improvement partially reflects the recent sharp dip in mortgage rates sparked by softer-than-expected labor sector data.

The ongoing government shutdown is directly impacting the housing market and delaying crucial economic data the Federal Reserve was counting on ahead of its next policy meeting on October 29. Here’s what’s being affected, and why it matters.

MBS Highway is excited to announce our new Strike Rate tool, which was designed to help our subscribers capture more refinance opportunities that are sitting right in their pipeline – immediately as they become available.