According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell last week to their lowest level since early May. Rates were down week-over-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 drop led to an increase in demand for mortgage applications, which rose 4.2 percent from the week before. The improvement was driven by a 6 … [Read more...]

When there are more buyers than available homes for sale, home prices rise. That's why prices spiked last year and have continued increasing into 2021. An already lower-than-normal number of homes for sale fell even lower after the coronavirus hit last March. The resulting inventory crunch, combined with elevated demand from buyers, has been driving prices upward ever since. But, while low inventory isn't great for buyers, it's good news for home builders, since building new homes is the quickest way to balance the … [Read more...]

Before you can shop for a house to buy, you have to make sure you'll be able to get a loan. After all, there's no point in falling in love with a home only to discover it's out of your price range – or worse, you aren't able to get approved for a mortgage. That's why meeting with your lender is the first step of the home buying process. It's how you know what you can spend on a house and what the terms of your loan will be. But the standards that are used to determine whether and how much you're able to borrow … [Read more...]

Having a second home is a dream for a lot of people. Who doesn't want somewhere beautiful they can escape to when they need a break or want to flee bad weather? But while we dream about it, owning a second home is expensive and, if you don't have the ability to use it often enough, might not be worth the cost. Last year, the coronavirus changed that equation for a lot of Americans. The increasing number of us who were able to work remotely could suddenly justify the extra expense, since we could spend more time in … [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. Most of the decline, however, happened later in the week – which helps explain why refinance activity, despite lower rates, still fell from one week earlier. Purchase loan demand, on the other hand, showed a slight … [Read more...]

There are plenty of reasons someone might be considering a move. But among the ones most commonly cited by prospective home buyers, a desire for more space always ranks near the top of the list. This was especially true last year, as the coronavirus kept us inside our homes more than we'd normally be. All that time at home drove many Americans to seek out a bigger house. And, according to one recent analysis, buyers last year bought even bigger than they had in previous years. In fact, last year, buyers who moved … [Read more...]

Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index measures Americans' perceptions of the housing market and their personal finances. Each month, participants are asked how they feel about buying and selling a home, mortgage rates, prices, the job market, and their income. In May, the index was relatively flat, increasing one point from the month before. There was a notable increase in the number of respondents who feel more secure in their jobs and money but the number who said they feel now is a good time to buy a house … [Read more...]

The things that motivate homeowners to sell stay pretty consistent through the years. Mostly, they're personal. Whether it's because they need a bigger house to accommodate a growing family or they want to move into a smaller, more manageable home because the kids have moved out and they no longer need the space, life usually dictates when it's time for a change. So, it's no surprise that a recent survey of potential home sellers found the top reason they're selling is that their home no longer meets the needs of … [Read more...]

Selling a house comes with a long to-do list. You've got to get the house ready for showings, clear out the clutter, and fix any lingering maintenance issues you've been neglecting. You also have to think about the price you'd like to get for it and where you're moving to, when, and how. In other words, there's a lot to do and think about. Which is why you may've never considered which day of the week is the best to list your home. But, according to one new analysis, it makes a difference. In fact, homes that are … [Read more...]