interest rates

In My Humble Opinion
1

I imagine that interest rates fluctuate but within fairly certain long-range trends. Is there a site where some standard interest rate is shown on a weekly, monthly basis for past few years, so I can judge where they’re heading and how fast?

In addition to this factual-type question, let me also ask your opinions: are interest rates IYO likely to stay below 4% and for how long? Is there much chance IYO that they will be stable for a while, or even go lower in the near future? I’m looking to buy a house to live in after I retire, which won’t be for another three years, probably, but I’d also like to take advantage of the current interest rates—my concern is if I don’t buy something soon, then interest rates in a few more years could price me out of the homebuying market, and I wouldn’t object strongly to paying two mortgages for a short time. (I’m looking in Florida, where I’d like to live in retirement, but I may be able to take a sabbatical next winter and live in my Florida house most of next winter.) Worst case scenario (again IYO), where do you think interest rates will be this time next year?

2

http://mortgage-x.com/x/ratesweekly.asp

The Fed has indicated it has no plans to allow interest rates to rise any time soon. Unless they lose their influence over the bond market (in which case there would be bigger problems to worry about than mortgage rates) or they’re lying, rates are expected to stay low.

3

I remember my mother telling me she got 15% on a NOW account in 1983 because it was over $10,000. I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but it’d be great to find a site that list historic interest banks paid. I know Mr Drysdale paid 5.5%

4

Historical US prime rate: