FinanceIntermediateAlaska Exam

The Federal Reserve's primary tool for influencing mortgage interest rates is:

ADirectly setting the 30-year fixed mortgage rate for all lenders, in most cases
BSetting the federal funds rate, which influences overall interest rate levelsCorrect
CPurchasing all FHA-insured mortgages on the secondary market
DImposing rate caps on adjustable-rate mortgages

Why Setting the federal funds rate, which influences overall interest rate levels Is Correct

Answer B: Setting the federal funds rate, which influences overall interest rate levels

The Federal Reserve's primary tool is the federal funds rate — the overnight lending rate between banks. Changes to the fed funds rate influence short-term and long-term interest rates broadly, including mortgage rates.

Exam Tip: Finance

Finance questions often involve calculations. Master the T-bar method, understand the difference between conventional and government-backed loans, and know key ratios like LTV and DTI.

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