For most of this year, new home builders have been optimistic. With high buyer demand and a stronger economy, the market for newly built homes was building some momentum. But, according to the most recent Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders, conditions are changing and builders are reacting. In fact, the index – which measures builder confidence on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – dropped eight points in November. Robert … [Read more...]

Young Americans want to own a home. Research consistently shows large majorities who say they aspire to one day become homeowners. And yet, the number of first-time home buyers active in the market has been lower than what is historically normal for several years. So why aren't more young Americans buying houses? Well there are a number of factors at play but, among them, student loan debt is a big one. According to one recent study, the average monthly student debt payment for current renters who say they'd like … [Read more...]

One good way of measuring where home prices are headed is to look at how many homes for sale have had to adjust their initial listing price. If there are a lot of homes in your area with price reductions, it could be a sign that the local market is softening. And, according to one national report, it likely is. That's because, new numbers show 31.3 percent of homes for sale in October had at least one price cut of more than 1 percent. By comparison, last year at the same time just 25 percent of homes had previously … [Read more...]

Naturally, affordability is a big consideration for anyone buying a home. After all, it's a significant purchase and you want to be sure you're getting a good deal. For that reason, recent reports of higher prices and rising mortgage rates may give you the impression that buying a house is out of reach. But new data from the National Association of Home Builders shows otherwise. That's because, their Housing Opportunity Index found that the majority of “new and existing homes sold between the beginning of July and … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, demand for loans to buy homes fell last week. In fact, purchase application demand was down 2.3 percent from one week earlier. Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC there are a couple of factors that could be contributing to the decline. “Recent volatility in the financial markets and increasing rates continue to adversely impact mortgage application activity, even as the general economic outlook remains positive,” Kan said. In other words, … [Read more...]

The housing market has been hot for a while. As the number of buyers outpaced the number of houses for sale, competition and prices rose. But just as competition helps push prices higher, higher prices help motivate homeowners to sell. Which is where we are today. Americans feel now is a good time to sell a house and, as more homeowners decide to list theirs, prices and competition will begin to slow down. That should start making conditions more favorable for buyers. But when will the seller's market become more … [Read more...]

Homeownership isn't a get rich quick scheme. So you shouldn't buy a house expecting its value to skyrocket and your wealth to instantly rise. The housing market will have its ups-and-downs and there are no guarantees. Which means, you probably shouldn't buy a house hoping it'll make you rich. And while that's generally good advice, it doesn't mean owning a home won't benefit your bottom line. For example, according to ATTOM Data Solutions' Q3 2018 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, there are now nearly 14.5 … [Read more...]

How much money you spend is dependent on how much money you have. This is a simple equation and one that explains the current housing market. That's because, though home prices and mortgage rates have gone up recently, home buyer demand remains high. And the most likely explanation for this is that the economy is stronger and people feel more secure financially. In short, they have more money so they're able to afford more. Take Fannie Mae's most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index. The survey asks Americans for … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were up last week from one week earlier. The increase is a continuation of a recent trend upward that has been propelled by improved economic conditions. As the economy has grown stronger, interest rates have grown along with it. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasts, told CNBC last week's increase was due, in part, to newly released employment numbers. “Rates increased slightly … [Read more...]

Millennials are now at, or quickly approaching, the age when the average American buys their first home. And though attitudes can shift from one generation to the next, when it comes to buying a home, millennials seem to agree with their parents and grandparents. In fact, they may be even more enthusiastic about buying a home. According to one recent survey of potential home buyers, millennials consider owning a home a top priority, second only to being able to retire. Homeownership was even named a higher priority … [Read more...]