When inventory’s tight and the market’s competitive, you don’t see many price cuts on listed homes. Only in cases where a home has issues or was priced too high will you see its price slashed in hopes of attracting buyers. That’s a seller’s market – one where good homes receive multiple offers and commonly sell for above their asking price. These days, most markets still favor home sellers, even as the inventory of homes for sale has improved from recent lows. But while sellers still hold most of the negotiating … [Read more...]

All housing market’s ebb and flow at their own pace. Which means what’s happening in one market may be entirely different than what’s happening in another. In other words, it’s about location. That’s why ATTOM Data Solutions keeps track of which housing markets are vulnerable to a downturn and which are least at risk. According to ATTOM’s most recent Special Housing Risk Report, the map hasn’t changed much lately. The same areas – mostly around Chicago, New York, and inland California – were determined to be most … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell last week across most loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances and 15-year fixed rate loans. Rates for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration saw no change from the week before. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s senior vice president and chief economist, says rates dropped early in the week before climbing higher again. “Mortgage rates were trending lower … [Read more...]

A new survey from the National Association of Home Builders found that a majority of respondents know what the housing market’s main issue is and what they’d like done about it. Seventy-seven percent of survey participants said there’s an affordability crisis where they live and 80 percent say they think their local government isn’t doing enough to encourage more building. In other words, Americans know there are too few housing options available and building more affordable homes is the best way to address the … [Read more...]

The typical home buyer doesn’t pay much attention to fluctuating lending standards or the number of available loan programs. They aren’t the first thing on buyers’ minds when shopping for a home. But they matter. Why? Because they affect how easy it is to find and secure financing. That’s why the Mortgage Bankers Association tracks mortgage credit availability each month. Its Mortgage Credit Availability Index gauges whether credit has become more or less available on a scale where any increase means credit is … [Read more...]

The housing market was good for home sellers before the pandemic and became even better after it. The number of homes available for sale was low almost everywhere, and that meant multiple offers and competing home buyers. Homes sold quickly and for more than their asking price. But what about now? Well, according to the latest results of Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index – which surveys Americans and asks for their opinions on buying/selling a home, mortgage rates, home prices, their job, and financial … [Read more...]

The combination of rising mortgage rates and continued price increases have made buying a home more challenging over the past year or more. But according to a recent Fannie Mae poll of 100 experts from the housing and mortgage industry, relief may be on the way. In fact, the expert panel sees home prices beginning to moderate through the end of this year and into 2025. Their forecast calls for national home price growth of 4.3 percent in 2024, followed by a 3.2 percent increase the year after. The gradual calming … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were mostly flat last week from the week before. Rates saw slight increases for 30-year fixed-rate loans with conforming loan balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Rates for loans with jumbo balances and 5/1 ARMs both saw declines week-over-week. Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s senior vice president and chief economist, says loan application demand also fell. “Mortgage … [Read more...]

Square footage isn’t always the best way to measure a home’s value. The price for two homes with the exact same square footage can be very different based on their features, upkeep, etc. But while it may not be the best way to measure a home’s worth, it is a commonly cited data point and its ups-and-downs can tell us something about the market. In the case of a recent analysis from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, what it tells us is buying a home has gotten significantly more expensive over … [Read more...]

Before you can seriously consider buying a home, you have to calculate whether or not you can afford the monthly mortgage payment. After all, there’s no point in falling in love with a house you can’t afford. But what’s a typical monthly mortgage payment look like these days? Well, the Mortgage Bankers Association tracks mortgage payments each month based on the loan amounts applied for by hopeful home buyers. In April, for example, the data shows the national median payment was $2,256. That’s up $55 from March … [Read more...]