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A random walk approach to predicting US 30-year home mortgage rates

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  • Baghestani, Hamid

Abstract

Following the implications of term structure theory in an efficient bond market, this study formulates a random walk model that produces unbiased and efficient forecasts of the 30-year mortgage rate for 1987-2006. Forecast accuracy improves with a reduction in lead time but deteriorates with an increase in the forecast horizon. We find, however, no clear trend indicating that forecast accuracy has improved over time. From a more practical perspective, the random walk forecasts of the 30-year mortgage rate and prepayment premium (the spread between 30-year mortgage and 10-year Treasury rates) accurately predict directional change and thus are of value to a user. In exploring the view that the 30-year mortgage rate often moves in tandem with the 10-year Treasury rate, we further find that these rates are cointegrated and thus converge to an equilibrium relation in the long-run.

Suggested Citation

  • Baghestani, Hamid, 2008. "A random walk approach to predicting US 30-year home mortgage rates," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 225-233, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:17:y:2008:i:3:p:225-233
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hamid Baghestani, 2017. "Do US consumer survey data help beat the random walk in forecasting mortgage rates?," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1343017-134, January.

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