The past several years have been tough for first-time home buyers. The inventory shortage that kept buyers fighting over too few homes for sale was particularly pronounced on the affordable end of the market. That meant, rising prices and few options for younger Americans looking to purchase their first house. These days, though, things seem to be turning around. For one, the share of first-time home buyers has spiked, from 37 percent of all buyers last year to 45 percent more recently, according to one new survey. … [Read more...]

Fannie Mae conducts a monthly survey of Americans to gauge public perception of the housing market and economy. The survey asks participants whether they think now is a good or bad time to buy a home, if they think mortgage rates will rise or fall in the next year, and about home prices, their personal financial situation, and job security. According to the results of the most recent survey, respondents are still feeling cautious about the current market, though a majority say it's a good time to sell a house. In … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved higher last week. Rates increased from the week before across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, 15-year fixed-rate loans, and 5/1 ARMs. The increases contributed to a 2 percent decline in demand for home purchase loans. Mike Fratantoni, MBA's senior vice president and chief economist, says higher … [Read more...]

The home price surge of the past few years was primarily caused by a lack of homes for sale. Too few options led buyers to fight for the homes that were available. Bidding wars and competition made for a challenging housing market, as inventory fell to historic lows. This year, though, things have begun to change. There are more homes available for sale than there were last year. In fact, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors' consumer website, the number of homes for sale was up nearly … [Read more...]

You want to feel safe at home. Which is why it's important to do some risk assessment when shopping for a house to buy. After all, thinking through some potential worst-case scenarios may help inform your decision-making process and avoid heartache down the road. Fortunately, today's buyers have access to more information than ever before. And, according to one new analysis, it's making them particularly aware of one specific risk more than the rest. In fact, the analysis found buyer behavior hasn't been impacted … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates rose again last week, with increases for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, 5/1 ARMs, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The 30-year fixed rate is now the highest it's been since 2006. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, says higher rates have slowed home buying activity. “The current rate has more … [Read more...]

With reports of slower buyer demand, higher mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty in the news, you might expect that sales of newly built single family homes would be falling. Economists polled by Reuters certainly did. Polled before the release of the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development's New Residential Sales report, economists said they expected sales would decline to an adjusted annual rate of 500,000 units. Instead, the newly released numbers show sales surging to an annual … [Read more...]

In a fast-paced housing market, buyers have to move quickly. That means making big decisions without much time to think. It can be stressful. Anyone who was active in the market last year knows the feeling. This year, though, the market's rebalancing and that's meant changing conditions for buyers. And according to one recent analysis, some of the changes will make it easier for home shoppers in the months ahead. How so? Well, the once fast pace of the housing market has slowed. The data shows buyer traffic – as … [Read more...]

Affordability is always a top concern for home buyers. That's no surprise. Buying a home is a major financial transaction and you want to feel comfortable knowing you're getting a good deal for your money and that you can afford the monthly mortgage payment. That's why recent spikes in mortgage rates and home prices have potential buyers more hesitant these days. So where does affordability stand right now? Well, according to the most recent release of the Mortgage Bankers Association's Purchase Applications … [Read more...]

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of contracts to buy homes signed each month. Because it tracks contracts, not closings, it's considered a good indicator of where home sales are headed. In August, the index registered a 2 percent decrease, marking the third consecutive month of declines. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says mortgage rates are the number one factor with buyers. “The direction of mortgage rates – upward or downward – is the prime mover for home … [Read more...]