The standards used to determine whether or not a borrower is approved for a mortgage aren't fixed. There are times when they tighten and times when they loosen. Because of this, the Mortgage Bankers Association tracks credit availability each month in order to measure how easy or difficult it is for borrowers to get a mortgage. Any increase in their index indicates that credit has become more available, while a decline means standards have tightened. In December, the overall index rose 0.8 percent, pushing it to … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose last week across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The increases, while significant, weren't enough to slow buyer demand, however. In fact, demand for purchase loan applications increased 2 percent from one week earlier. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of … [Read more...]

There a lot of things to consider when thinking about making a move. How close you'll be to family and friends, affordability, and the local job market are all important factors that play a role when choosing where we'd like to live. But, according to one recent survey, climate is also a factor for homeowners and renters considering a move. In fact, among renters it was the most important factor, ranking higher than both the job market and home prices. Homeowners, on the other hand, ranked it second behind … [Read more...]

It'd be easy to get the impression that owning a home is more expensive than renting. After all, home prices have been increasing for years – and especially over the past year. But, according to a recent analysis from ATTOM Data Solutions, homeownership is still more affordable then renting in 58 percent of counties. The analysis compared the cost of owning a median-priced home to the average rent on a three-bedroom property in 1,154 counties and found that homeownership expenses consumed a smaller portion of … [Read more...]

The percentage of Americans who say it's a good time to sell a house rose 26 percent year over year, according to the December results of Fannie Mae's monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index. The survey – which asks Americans what they think about buying or selling a home, mortgage rates, home prices, their jobs, and household income – was relatively flat from the month before. However, year-over-year comparisons show a large spike in the number of respondents who think it's a good time to sell – while the number who … [Read more...]

Shopping for a home to buy can be challenging in markets where there aren't many homes for sale. For one, it's more difficult to find an available house in the right neighborhood with the right features. Then, when you do find one, you often have to outbid other prospective buyers who also want it. But, while the number of homes for sale is still lower than normal, you shouldn't let the current inventory crunch put your home-buying plans on hold. Why? Well, there's an expectation that this year's market will see … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were mostly flat during the final two weeks of December. Rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans saw little movement from the week before. But, while rates were relatively unchanged, they remained at their highest level since April 2021, which – along with the holiday season – slowed demand for mortgage … [Read more...]

The housing market typically slows down at the end of the year. The reasons for this aren't difficult to understand. Between harsher weather and the holidays, not a lot of people have moving on their mind during the month of December. But while the market has been experiencing a typical seasonal slowdown, it remains hot when compared to pre-pandemic levels. For example, a look at recently released numbers shows that the number of homes for sale with an accepted offer within one week was nearly double what it was … [Read more...]

If you're like most Americans, your monthly mortgage payment will be among your biggest bills. That's why it's important for prospective home buyers to crunch the numbers before shopping for a house. Knowing how much you can comfortably afford will help you avoid buying a house that causes you financial stress. And these days, that's a factor. The pandemic has led to more economic uncertainty and it has a lot of us thinking about our bills. For example, in one recent survey, nearly 50 percent of participants said … [Read more...]

Buying a home has become less affordable over the past year. Home prices have surged as buyer demand outpaced the inventory of homes for sale. But while homeownership has gotten less affordable, it's still within the average Americans' financial means, according to a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions. Their fourth-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Affordability Report found that the cost of owning a median-priced home now consumes about 25 percent of the average national wage of $65,546. That's within the 28-percent … [Read more...]