Home prices can be deceiving. After all, the sales price of a home isn't really the number that matters most to a prospective home buyer. The monthly mortgage payment is, and it depends on a number of different factors, including property tax, mortgage rates, the down payment, mortgage insurance, etc. In other words, when thinking about how much house you can afford, it's best to take everything into consideration, not just the sticker price. That's why a new analysis is good news for home buyers concerned about … [Read more...]

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of contracts to buy homes signed each month. It's an important barometer of housing-market health because it can be a reliable indicator of future home sales numbers. In September, the index found pending sales down 2.2 percent from the previous month, though still 20.5 percent higher than last year at the same time. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says home buying demand is still strong. “The demand for home buying remains … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell last week from the week before. Rates were down for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances. They also fell for 15-year fixed-rate loans, while rates for mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration were up slightly. Overall, mortgage application demand climbed 1.7 percent from the previous week, with refinance activity up 3 percent and demand for loans to buy homes virtually … [Read more...]

In today's market, there are more home buyers than there are homes available for sale. In other words, it's a seller's market. But despite favorable conditions for sellers, the number of homes for sale is down 37 percent year-over-year. So why aren't more homeowners putting their homes up for sale? Well, according to one recent survey, uncertainty is the answer. Among Americans who have considered selling in the next few years, 34 percent said life is just too uncertain right now, with 31 percent citing financial … [Read more...]

Whether you're buying a new home or not, the pace of new home sales matters to you and your home search. That's because, how quickly new homes are selling affects how quickly more new homes are built. And, at a time when housing supply lags behind buyer demand, more new homes is the best way to balance the market and keep prices from spiking higher. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development releases a monthly report that tracks how many new homes were sold in the previous month. … [Read more...]

These days, there are plenty of interested home buyers but fewer homes for sale. That means, home sellers have options and buyers have to be prepared. So what are some things buyers can do to ensure their success? Well, they should start by making sure their finances are in order. According to one recent survey, more than one-in-five home sellers who've had an offer fall through said it was because of issues with financing. So, if you're thinking about buying soon, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be at … [Read more...]

New numbers from the National Association of Realtors show just how quickly homes are selling these days. Their September existing-home sales report found that, not only were sales of previously owned homes up 20.9 percent over last year's pace, but 71 percent of homes sold during the month were on the market for less than a month. In fact, the typical property was on the market just 21 days. That's an all-time low. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says the usual seasonal sales patterns may not apply this year. … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose slightly last week from one week earlier. Rates increased 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 from the week before. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, says the increases slowed demand week-over-week, though it remains … [Read more...]

In a hot housing market, where there are more buyers than there are homes for sale, competition rises. A good house will attract multiple buyers and give the home's seller the benefit of choosing whose offer is best. This, of course, can be stressful for home buyers, as it most often means paying more than expected or losing the house to another buyer. This year, with for-sale inventory down and buyer interest surging, the market has seen plenty of competition. Home shoppers have had to act quickly and decisively … [Read more...]

Builders don't build homes, if they don't feel there's a market for them. That's why, the National Association of Home Builders' Housing Market Index – which measures builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes – is considered an important indicator. After all, if builders are feeling good about selling new homes, they will build more, which is good for the market and overall economy. The index, which the NAHB has conducted for 35 years, is measured on a scale where any number above 50 … [Read more...]