mortgage rates Archives

The Real Estate Trends To Watch In 2017

The real-estate market is constantly evolving and there are a lot of moving parts. So, whether you’re buying or selling a home, it’s good to have some awareness of your local market, average mortgage rates, home prices, inventory, etc. That way, you aren’t approaching a major financial transaction totally in the dark. So what should you be watching if you’re looking to buy or sell this year? Well, according to a recent survey of real-estate agents, there are a few trends you should keep an eye on. Mortgage rates rank high on the list. With home prices still rising, if mortgage rates continue to increase, it could have a negative influence on home buyers. Surprisingly, though, when asked what effect a 1 percent increase in rates would have on the market, survey participants said probably not much. In fact, 49 percent of agents said home buyers would just look for less expensive homes, while nearly 20 percent said it would have no effect at all. Survey respondents did say, however, that a rate increase could have an impact on current homeowners who may be looking to sell. According to responding agents, fewer homes available to buy – and the fact that many of these homeowners now have locked in favorable rates – could mean homeowners remain in their current home, despite a desire to move. More here.

Mortgage Rates Fall Over Holiday Season

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell over the two-week holiday season. Rates were down for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, as well as 15-year fixed-rate loans. Rates for mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration were unchanged. But despite the fact that it was the first time in weeks that rates moved lower, demand for mortgage applications still fell. In fact, refinance activity was down 22 percent and the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dropped 2 percent from two weeks earlier. Naturally, the numbers are adjusted to account for the Christmas holiday but, according to the MBA’s chief economist Michael Fratantoni, the slowdown was even more than is usual for the holidays. “Mortgage application volume typically drops sharply over the holidays,” Fratantoni told CNBC. “However, this year, as mortgage rates continued their upward climb reaching the highest levels in more than two years, overall application volume fell even more than the holiday slowdown would suggest.” The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

The Surest Path To A Lower Mortgage Rate

With the recent rise in mortgage rates, many Americans who were thinking of buying a home this year may be feeling concerned about how much house they’ll be able to afford. If that describes you, there are a couple of things to remember. First off, even though rates have moved higher over the past several weeks, they still remain low by historical standards. In other words, you’re still getting a better rate than you would have 10 or 15 years ago and locking it in now with a fixed-rate mortgage means you’ll be protected should they move closer toward their historical norm in the future. There are also things you can do to ensure that, when you apply for a loan, you are getting the best rate possible. Number one on that list is doing whatever you can to raise your credit score. Your credit history plays a large role in determining the rate you will end up paying. So it is always a good idea to check your score before beginning the buying process. If possible, fix any errors, pay down any debts, and – as always – make sure to pay your bills on time each month. Though you don’t have to have perfect credit to be qualified for a loan, the higher your score, the better. More here.

Home Buyers Come Out Despite Higher Rates

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose yet again last week. In fact, rates were up across all loan categories, 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. But despite higher rates, the number of Americans requesting applications for home loans rose from the week before. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, told CNBC that application demand may have bumped up in anticipation of the Fed raising interest rates last week. “Mortgage rates increased at least partially as a result of the Federal Reserve’s rate hike and move to a slightly more hawkish stance,” Fratantoni said. “Borrowers may have gotten applications into their lender in advance of the FOMC announcement, as most observers anticipated an increase in the Fed’s rate target at the December meeting.” Still, though the Fed did raise rates, average mortgage rates are still well below their historical norm – meaning there are still opportunities for homeowners looking to refinance or buyers hoping to lock in a low rate. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications.

Mortgage Rates Continue Climb Upward

Though they didn’t move much, average mortgage rates were up again last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey. The survey found rates increased from one week earlier for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with both jumbo and conforming balances. Mortgage rates were down slightly for 15-year fixed-rate loans. Increasing rates continue to have a negative effect on refinance demand – which is generally more sensitive cialis generique to rate fluctuation. In fact, the refinance index fell 4 percent from the week before, while demand for loans to buy homes dropped 3 percent. At this time last year, refinance demand was 12 percent higher than it is now. Purchase applications, on the other hand, are still outperforming last year’s numbers, rising 2 percent higher than they were during the same week last year. The number of Americans requesting applications to buy homes may be falling because of higher mortgage rates, though it’s also likely due to a lower-than-normal number of homes available for sale and prices that have returned to their pre-crash peaks in many markets. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential cialis generique mortgage applications. More here.

Survey Asks Americans About Housing Market

Fannie Mae’s monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index tracks Americans’ feelings about buying and selling a home, prices, mortgage rates, household income, etc. In November, the survey saw its fourth consecutive monthly decline, though it remains up slightly from where it was at the same time last year. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says there was an uptick in consumer confidence and the number of respondents who said their income was higher than it was last year but, so close to an election, it’s hard to read too much into the results. “The November Home Purchase Sentiment Index outcome is difficult to interpret as the data collection period occurred across the presidential election timeline,” Duncan said. “The results are fairly evenly split between responses collected before and after the election, and there is evidence of an increase in consumer optimism in the immediate aftermath of the election. However, we caution readers against drawing conclusions about sustainable changes in consumer sentiment so soon after the election.” As an example, Duncan points to rising mortgage rates and how they could impact home purchase attitudes if sustained. However, because recent fluctuations in mortgage rates have been short lived, with rates returning to their prior position shortly after a spike, it may be too soon to say. In other words, Americans may feel uncertain but there isn’t yet reason to believe market conditions have fundamentally changed. More here.

Rising Mortgage Rates Still Low Historically

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose again last week. Rates moved up for all loan types except those backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Still, despite steadily increasing over the past month, mortgage rates remain low by historical standards. In fact, since 1980, mortgage rates have been as high as 18 percent – though they spent most of the past 40 years somewhere between 7 and 10 percent. In other words, mortgage rates are up from their all-time lows but remain far lower than they’ve typically been. The increases, however, have had an impact on refinance activity, which is more sensitive to rate fluctuations. “Refinances are almost entirely driven by mortgage rates, while purchase activity is a function of a broader set of variables including the state of the job market, demographics, and consumer confidence,” Michael Fratantoni, chief economist for the MBA, told CNBC. As proof, Fratantoni points to the fact that purchase application demand has actually risen 12 percent over the past month, while the group’s refinance index has fallen over the same period. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

What 1st-Time Home Buyers Need To Know Now

It’s normal to feel a little bit of stress when buying a house. Whether it’s financial worry or just the logistics of moving all of your belongings to a new home, there’s a lot to think about and plan for. This is especially true for first-time home buyers. That’s because first timers have never navigated their way through the home buying process before and may be feeling some added fear, confusion, and concern about handling the responsibilities of homeownership. So what should younger buyers be watching for if they’re planning on buying a home soon? Well, according to Fannie Mae’s chief economist, Doug Duncan, mortgage rates and inventory will be key to determining whether or not there are enough affordable, entry-level homes available for new buyers next year. “Demand from first-time buyers has increased with household formation and is outpacing supply, leading to significant price increases and affordability challenges for entry-level buyers,” Duncan said in Fannie Mae’s most recent Economic & Housing Outlook. “Home purchase affordability will be constrained further if the recent pickup in mortgage rates persists, which would present a downside risk to our forecast of housing and mortgage activity.” In other words, if mortgage rates continue rising and inventory remains low, first-time buyers should expect higher prices and more competition in the year ahead. More here.

Contract Signings Inch Forward In October

The National Association Of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of contracts to buy homes that are signed each month. Because it tracks contracts, and not closings, it is a good indicator of future sales of previously owned homes. In October, the index saw a 0.1 percent gain over the month before and is now 1.8 percent higher than the same time last year. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says pending sales are at their highest level since July. “Most of the country last month saw at least a small increase in contract singings and more notably, activity in all four major regions is up from a year ago,” Yun said. “Despite limited listings and steadfast price growth that’s now carried into the fall, buyer demand has remained strong because of the consistently reliable job creation in a majority of metro areas.” But Yun believes affordability conditions will begin to suffer in the months ahead if there isn’t an increase in the number of homes available for sale. With mortgage rates rising and inventory low, buyers could begin to feel the effects, especially in markets where prices have already largely recovered. More here.

Buying Cheaper Than Rent In Many Markets

Because buying a home is such a major undertaking, it’s easy to assume that it’s more expensive than finding a place to rent. That, however, isn’t necessarily true. In fact, buying remains the more affordable option in many markets across the country. A recent report from Zillow highlights some of the reasons why that is. For one, when home prices crashed, rental costs didn’t. That means, rent continued to head upward while home values were making up for lost ground. So, though home prices have largely recovered from their post-crash lows, they remain below their peak in most areas. The other reason buying a house remains the more affordable option is mortgage rates. While they’ve been climbing recently, they are still low by historical standards. And, with historically low rates helping to alleviate some of the effects of higher prices, affordability and monthly housing costs are kept under control. Going forward, Zillow predicts rental cost growth will begin to fall in the coming year. That’s good news for the real estate market, as it will provide some relief to younger renters who may struggle to save for a down payment on their first home. More here.