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The Forecast For First-Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home is different than buying your second. For one, first-time buyers have never been through the process before and face a lot of unknowns. They also have to build a down payment from scratch, since they don’t have a house to sell. And without the benefit of home equity to help fund a home purchase, buying prospects can look a little different. In short, first-time buyers face some challenges other home buyers may not. So what can they expect from today’s market? Well, according to Fannie Mae’s chief economist, Doug Duncan, affordability is the top concern for first-time buyers. Prices have largely recovered from their post-crash decline and mortgage rates have been on the rise lately. That means, affordability conditions are changing. It also means for-sale inventory is the key factor to watch for buyers interested in an entry-level house. If the number of homes for sale rises, that should help moderate future price increases and give new buyers more homes to choose from. This could help balance the effect of higher rates and make finding an affordable home a little easier for first-time buyers. More here.

Most People Say They Have Good Neighbors

There are a lot of things you can tell about living in a particular a house from a quick visit or two. There are even some things you can tell just from driving through the surrounding neighborhood. But, while you can know how much available storage a house has or how new the windows are, you wonâ€™t have as easy a time knowing what your prospective neighbors are like and what itâ€™ll be like living next to them. Fortunately, though, most Americans say they have good neighbors. In fact, according to the results of a new survey from the National Association of Realtorsâ€™ consumer website, three out of four people said they have good neighbors. That means, more likely than not, youâ€™ll be able to get along with the people living around you. But what exactly makes a neighbor good? Well, respondents said being trustworthy and quiet were the most important qualities in a neighbor and being disrespectful of property was the worst trait a neighbor could have. But while everyone wants to have a good relationship with their neighbors, they donâ€™t necessarily expect to become best friends. Very few participants said a close friendship was a must, with just 9 percent of women saying so and 20 percent of men. More here.

Demand Slows As Mortgage Rates Rise

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates increased last week across most loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The increase follows a general upward trend driven primarily by economic improvement and a stronger job market. Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC higher rates are also the result of actions taken by the Federal Reserve. “Treasury rates increased over the week, mainly as communication from Federal Reserve officials pointed to a continued path of rate hikes, based on the strength of the economy and hot job market,” Kan said. “Furthermore, four out of five rates tracked in our survey increased.” The increase hit refinance activity hardest, with demand falling 9 percent from the week before. Purchase activity also fell but remains 2 percent higher than at the same time last year. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Optimistic Builders Offer An Encouraging Sign

When builders feel confident that there are a lot of buyers looking for new homes, they build more homes. It’s simple, really. It’s also good for the housing market, as more new homes help provide choices and keep prices from spiking. That’s why the National Association of Home Builders tracks builder confidence each month. In October, their survey found builders optimistic about the market for newly-built homes and confident that buyer demand will remain high. “Builders are motivated by solid housing demand, fueled by a growing economy and a generational low for unemployment,” Randy Noel, NAHB’s chairman, said. “Builders are also relieved that lumber prices have declined for three straight months from elevated levels earlier this summer, but they need to manage supply-side costs to keep home prices affordable.” Among the survey’s three components – scored on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – current sales conditions rose a point to 74 and expectations for the next six months increased to 75. The results are an encouraging sign that new home inventory will improve and help bring more balance to the market, which is good news for buyers. More here.

Fewer Home Buyers Making Offers Sight Unseen

No one wants to make big decisions hastily. Itâ€™s a great way to make mistakes and end up with regrets. Which is why, in an ideal situation, home buyers would have time to consider the pros and cons of multiple houses and choose the one that best fits their needs and wishlist. Unfortunately, in a competitive market, thatâ€™s not always possible. And so, buyers have to be prepared and ready to make an offer when they see a house they like. The good news is, now that inventory is beginning to rise and houses are staying on the market longer, home buyers have more time to weigh their decision. In fact, according to a recent survey, the number of buyers who made an offer on a house without seeing it first has fallen 15 percent since late last year. This is a good indication that buyers are feeling some relief and arenâ€™t feeling pressured to move as quickly as they were when inventory was tighter. But though this is encouraging news for potential buyers, it doesnâ€™t mean the market isnâ€™t competitive. If youâ€™re interested in purchasing a home any time soon, itâ€™s still best to do your homework, be prepared, prequalified, and ready to make an offer when you find a house you like. More here.

Most Homeowners Say They Love Their House

Sometimes picking a house to buy can cause anxiety. After all, what if you choose the wrong one and arenâ€™t happy living there? What if there are structural or mechanical issues that go undetected and will end up meaning costly renovations? Itâ€™s hard to imagine that you could possibly cover all the potential issues in just a few walkthroughs. And so, itâ€™s natural to worry about buyerâ€™s remorse. But, according to a new survey, you might be worrying yourself unnecessarily. Thatâ€™s because, the results show an overwhelming majority of respondents said they love their current home. In fact, 83 percent of participants said they were happy in their house. To some degree, the responses fell along demographic lines, with people 55 years or older and retirees being the most likely groups to say they love their home and have no plans to move. Respondents between 18 and 34 were more likely to want to move. There were also regional differences. For example, residents in Boston and Detroit were more likely to say they like their current home and would rather renovate than move, while the survey found Los Angeles residents were the most likely to say theyâ€™d prefer a new house. More here.

Prices Cuts Rising But Only In Some Neighborhoods

Home prices have been increasing for awhile. But their consistent upward climb is starting to slow, according to new data. In fact, a recent analysis has found the number of home sellers who have reduced their listing price is up from where it was last year. The research shows 17.2 percent of homes for sale reduced their price in August, up from 16.7 percent last year at the same time. Thatâ€™s encouraging news for hopeful home buyers who have been keeping an eye on affordability conditions. But, though price reductions are at their highest level since 2014, that doesnâ€™t mean every neighborhood is part of the trend. For example, in this case, there are more reductions seen at the higher end of the housing market than in more affordable price brackets. That means, while you may be able to find a better deal in a pricier neighborhood, you may not have as much luck in the more affordable locations popular with entry-level and first-time buyers. Thatâ€™s why potential home buyers should do some research on their preferred neighborhoods and get an idea of where theyâ€™ll be able to get the best deal. More here.

Loans To Buy Homes Up 2% From Last Year

According to the Mortgage Bankers Associationâ€™s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were up across all loan categories last week, including 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The increase follows an upward trend that has been driven by economic improvement and a stronger job market. â€œRates moved higher last week, driven by strong data on the job market, indicating that the Fed will continue to raise rates,â€ Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC. But despite higher rates and a weekly drop in application demand, requests for loans to buy homes is still up over last year, when rates were lower. In fact, the MBAâ€™s Purchase Index is now 2 percent higher than it was a year ago. The improvement, though slight, is a good indication that demand for homes remains strong, even while rates move higher. The MBAâ€™s weekly survey covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications and has been conducted since 1990. More here.

Economy Has Americans Thinking About Buying

Deciding to buy a house is mainly a money decision. You either feel secure enough financially to make a move or you donâ€™t. This helps explain the current real estate market. After all, survey after survey shows Americans think home prices and mortgage rates are moving higher and making it less affordable to buy. And yet, home buying demand remains high. Why? Well, mostly because, at the same time, people also feel more secure in their jobs and money due to a stronger economy and job market. Take Fannie Maeâ€™s most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index as an example. The survey found a rising number of respondents who said it was a good time to buy a home, despite increasing numbers who also say they believe mortgage rates and prices will continue to rise. Doug Duncan, Fannie Maeâ€™s senior vice president and chief economist, says the economy explains it. â€œDownside risk to housing is limited by broader economic strength, which helped boost perceptions of current home buying conditions,â€ Duncan said. â€œFor consumers who say now is a good time to buy, the share citing overall economic conditions as a reason rose to a survey high.â€ More here.

Green Features Add Value To Homes

In order for a home to be considered truly green, there are six elements it needs to contain, according to the Appraisal Institute, a professional association of real estate appraisers. These include water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials, and operations and maintenance. Put simply, to retrofit a home to meet those standards would require a lot of work. But that doesnâ€™t mean you canâ€™t improve your homeâ€™s performance through smaller measures. And Appraisal Institute president, James L. Murrett, says, if you do, youâ€™ll not only be able to lower your bills but you may also be able to sell your house for more when the time comes. â€œThe latest research shows that green and energy-efficient home improvements have the potential to pay dividends for buyers and sellers,â€ Murrett says. â€œHowever, it depends on the improvements made. Some green renovations, such as adding Energy Star appliances and extra insulation, are likely to pay the homeowner back in lowered utility bills relatively quickly.â€ Whether youâ€™re searching for a home to buy or thinking about selling one, a homeâ€™s efficiency and performance is an important factor to consider. More here.