Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) January 08, 2015
Predicting the future of mortgage rates is equal-parts science and art form. And, for U.S. consumers, it’s been difficult to identify the #1 “mortgage rate forecasters” in the country – until now.
Mortgage-news website The Mortgage Reports recently launched a new, interactive mortgage rate game pitting loan officers, real estate agents, economists, journalists, and consumers against each other in a test of mortgage rate-prediction skills.
"The Mortgage Rate Game" is a gamification of mortgage rate predictions. Contests run weekly and winners singled out for recognition and prizes based on performance.
“The Mortgage Reports is excited to provide consumers and mortgage rate shoppers with real-time mortgage rate forecasting from some of the brightest mortgage minds nationwide,” said Dan Green, Chief Publishing Officer of The Mortgage Reports. “For years, consumers have had to rely on Wall Street to tell them where mortgage rates are headed next but Wall Street’s not always right. With The Mortgage Rate Game, we expect 'Main Street' to show the world just how much it knows.”
Playing the game is simple. Players create a free account online, then vote for the direction in which they feel mortgage rates will move over the next two weeks. Forecasts are compared to actual mortgage rate movement using benchmarks supplied by Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Winners are recognized for their predictions. Every seven days, a new round begins.
A sampling of the game’s initial players include Green, plus a list of loan officers -- many of whom are among the top 0.1% percent of active U.S. loan officers nationwide in terms of loans closed annually, and total loan volume overall.
The game's early leader is Joe Catalbiano of Guaranteed Rate in Chicago, who's riding a 7-week winning streak. "The Mortgage Rate Game is a fun way to showcase my mortgage-market knowledge with the millions of readers of The Mortgage Reports. I'm sharing the same advice I share with my clients." Joe closed $238 million in loans in 2013, which ranks fifth among U.S. loan officers, according to Scotsman Guide.
The game is now open for public registration at http://themortgagereports.com/rategame.
Since 2004, TheMortgageReports.com has established itself as a “go-to” resource for honest and actionable mortgage information. The site helps millions of consumers annually to learn more about mortgages, and to get access to the latest mortgages rates nationwide.
For more information, visit http://themortgagereports.com/rategame.