There are many ways to gauge the housing market. You can follow home prices and mortgage rates, buyer traffic and sales, new home construction, or access to credit. But, if you're a potential home buyer or seller, there may be no better indicator than inventory. That's because, it's an easy way to determine whether or not the market favors buyer or sellers. When there are too few homes for sale, buyers have to compete for available homes, which leads to higher home prices. When there are too many homes for sale, … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, the number of Americans requesting applications for loans to buy homes is now 13 percent higher than it was at the same time last year. The improvement comes during a week when average mortgage rates increased. In fact, rates were up 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. Mike Fratantoni, MBA's … [Read more...]

The typical home seller lives in their house for more than a decade before they put it up for sale. And during that 10 years, there are probably a few things they let go. So it's no surprise that the vast majority of them feel the need to fix their place up before putting in on the market. In fact, according to one recent analysis, nearly 80 percent of home sellers complete one home improvement project before they invite potential buyers to have a look. This can include anything from a fresh coat of paint to a … [Read more...]

Spring is typically the season when housing market activity picks up. And this year – after a slow fall and winter that saw mortgage rates rising and affordability concerns increasing – the spring sales forecast has been a question mark. Will home buyers stay on the sidelines convinced that there are better conditions ahead or will they see declining rates and an increasing number of homes for sale as a sign that it's a good time to buy? Well, according to Fannie Mae's most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index, … [Read more...]

No matter how much money you have, you still have to make choices about how to spend it. Spending too much on one thing means not having as much for another. This is simple budgeting. And, since your mortgage will likely be among your biggest monthly bills, you'll want to give some thought to how much of your income you'd be comfortable putting toward it. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your income on housing. But historically, Americans' mortgage payments have been closer to 21 … [Read more...]

There's a long list of things you need to consider when looking for a house to buy. Whether it's the size of the kitchen, the number of bedrooms, or just what condition its in, there's no shortage of considerations. And, for people with dogs, a home that's a good fit for their furry friend is definitely among them. Dogs have needs too. And, since they're a part of the family, those needs will have an impact on which house you choose. For example, having an outdoor space – whether it's a fenced in yard or a nearby … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell 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 decline was significant and caused demand for loan applications to surge. In fact, refinance activity was up 39 percent week-over-week and purchase demand rose 3 percent from one week earlier. Demand for loans to buy … [Read more...]

New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development show new home sales reached an 11-month high in February. In fact, sales rose 4.9 percent over the previous month, beating economists' expectations and rising above numbers from last year at the same time. There was also a revision to January's estimate, which added nearly 30,000 sales to initial reports. Regionally, new home sales surged in the Midwest and Northeast, while remaining relatively flat in the South and West. … [Read more...]

As home prices have recovered over the past several years, prospective buyers have become increasingly concerned about affordability conditions. After all, buying a home is a major financial commitment and getting less house for your money isn't ideal. But things may be changing. In fact, a recent survey of active home shoppers found that a majority think prices may have hit their peak. According to the results, 56 percent of respondents said they don't expect prices to climb any further. That's good news for … [Read more...]

Contracts to buy homes fell 1 percent in February from the month before, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. The decline follows a strong showing in January and was primarily felt in the Midwest, where pending sales activity fell 7.2 percent. The South and West saw increases. Pending sales are important because they track contracts, not closings. That means, they can be a good indicator of what home sales numbers will look like a month or so from now. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief … [Read more...]