Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC

Interest Rates: The Difference 30 Years Makes

by Mark Wellborn

It is hard to believe, but true. Interest rates for 30-year mortgages back in the early 1980s were triple what they are today. Tom O’Keefe of Prosperity Mortgage in Chevy Chase DC has compiled a pretty amazing chart that maps interest rates going back to 1980, which gives a great visual perspective of how rates have changed in the last thirty years. The full chart is below.

image

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/interest_rates_the_difference_30_years_makes/1157

3 Comments

  1. benji said at 12:36 pm on Wednesday July 22, 2009:

    It is pretty incredible that rates were as high as 16%. Granted that was in 1980 dollars, but still crazy.

  1. PleasantPlainer said at 10:27 am on Thursday July 23, 2009:

    They should also include prices (which would be a mirror of this), perhaps income, and some other metrics that would give a more complete picture.

  1. Alex said at 6:19 am on Tuesday July 28, 2009:

    It doesn’t matter whether it’s 1980 dollars or 2009 dollars, since it’s a rate it’s equally crazy now or then.  That peak was short lived but sparked a huge recession (but finally killed off stagflation).

    the more interesting thing to me is the strong overall downward trend over the last 30 years.  I’d be interested to know what explains that, or what that means for the future.

Join the discussion



* required fields

Georgette Eftekhari

UrbanLand Company

202.550.6750

Serving:

U Street Corridor

Foxhall

Glover Park

UrbanTurf Archive

Following are past UrbanTurf stories, organized by topic for your convenience.

Neighborhood Profiles more »

Friendship Heights: A Shopping Mecca With a Few Places to Live

Friendship Heights: A Shopping Mecca With a Few Places to Live

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 1 Comment

If living in a city means enjoying a walkable neighborhood, having retail and public transportation... read »

Editor's Choice more »

Rents Will Fall in the DC Area, But Not By That Much

Rents Will Fall in the DC Area, But Not By That Much

Mark Wellborn
January 26th | 5 Comments

A strong apartment delivery schedule over the next few years will mean that rents will go down. But... read »

New Condo Profiles more »

EYA To Build Waterfront Luxury Condos in Old Town

EYA To Build Waterfront Luxury Condos in Old Town

Shilpi Paul
January 27th | 0 Comments

EYA CEO Bob Youngentob told UrbanTurf today that the firm will start construction on a 60-unit... read »

The DC Condo Market more »

New Renderings for JBG’s Florida Ave. Project; Reatig Redesign

New Renderings for JBG’s Florida Ave. Project; Reatig Redesign

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 2 Comments

UrbanTurf has received the latest renderings for JBG's Florida Avenue project, as well as updates... read »

Green Real Estate more »

Pepco Buys Award-Winning Solar Decathalon House

Pepco Buys Award-Winning Solar Decathalon House

Shilpi Paul
January 30th | 2 Comments

WaterShed, the University of Maryland-designed home that took top honors at the 2011 Solar... read »

Deal of the Week more »

Deal of the Week: Gone in a Blink of an Eye

Deal of the Week: Gone in a Blink of an Eye

UrbanTurf Staff
January 17th | 3 Comments

About a month ago, UrbanTurf featured a three-bedroom home on 13th Street as a Deal of the Week.... read »

Renting more »

The Increase in DC Rents Is Slowing Down

The Increase in DC Rents Is Slowing Down

UrbanTurf Staff
January 3rd | 6 Comments

DC area rents are still on the rise, but not surging like they have done in years past, and that... read »

Market Watch more »

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Keith Gibbons
November 28th | 5 Comments

Housing Market Watch returns this week after a little hiatus as Keith Gibbons takes a closer look... read »

Unique Spaces more »

Unique Spaces: The Gym, The Stables and The Firehouse

The Gym, The Stables and The Firehouse

Mark Wellborn
September 22nd | 0 Comments

These days, it is not that uncommon for a former school or a church in the DC area to be put up for... read »

This Week's Find more »

This Week’s Find: A Co-op For a Chef in a Classic Wardman

A Co-op For a Chef in a Classic Wardman

Shilpi Paul
February 2nd | 1 Comment

Thanks to a few renovations, the owners of This Week's Find brought style, space and multiple... read »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks more »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks: $330 a Month in Rent in DC?

$330 a Month in Rent in DC?

UrbanTurf Staff
January 24th | 6 Comments

In this installment of UrbanTurf Reader Asks, a reader inquires as to whether or not the type of... read »

What X Buys You more »

What $700,000 Buys You: The Colonial Edition

What $700,000 Buys You: The Colonial Edition

Shilpi Paul
January 24th | 0 Comments

In What X Buys You this week, UrbanTurf takes a look at colonial-style homes on the market in the... read »

Best New Listings more »

Best New Listings: The $1 Million Edition

Best New Listings: The $1 Million Edition (Week of Feb 3rd)

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 0 Comments

In this week's special edition of Best New Listings, we look at homes that recently hit the market... read »

Luxury Real Estate more »

DC’s Most Expensive Homes Not as Pricey As They Used to Be

DC’s Most Expensive Homes Not as Pricey As They Used to Be

UrbanTurf Staff
January 30th | 3 Comments

A new house recently hit the market in DC for $11.9 million, making it the second most expensive... read »

Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC