Spring is traditionally thought of as the start of home buying season. Harsh winter weather begins to fade and interested buyers become more active. Because of this, homeowners who hope to sell often wait for spring to list their home. But what is the best time to put your home up for sale, if you want to get the best price for it? Well, it depends on where you are in the country. Naturally, in warmer parts of the country, it comes earlier than in others. For example, late March is the best time for selling in San … [Read more...]

New home sales are an important barometer for the housing market. When they're selling quickly, home builders build more homes, which helps balance inventory and keeps home prices from spiking. In other words, if you want to know how the housing market is doing, new home sales are a good place to check. That's why new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are encouraging. Their January New Residential Sales report shows a spike in sales, which are now at their … [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 drop caused a slight increase in overall mortgage demand, with refinance and purchase activity combining for a 1.5 percent improvement over the week before. Mike Fratantoni, MBA's senior vice president and chief … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were up last week from the week before, with increases seen for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. The rate increase caused a drop in mortgage applications, which fell 6.4 percent from the previous week. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, says the number of … [Read more...]

Like any big decision, buying a home requires a lot of thought and consideration. You have to figure out what you want, what you need, and what you can do without. But, if you're buying a home as a couple, you also need to compromise with your significant other. Because, chances are, the two of you will have some different ideas when it comes to the type of home to buy, the features you have to have, the neighborhood you'd like to live in, and the amount you'd like to spend. In fact, a recent survey found 77 … [Read more...]

Choosing a home to buy means considering everything from whether the roof is in good condition to whether the neighborhood fits your needs and lifestyle. And, since you're unlikely to find a home that checks every box on your wishlist, you have to prioritize. Are good schools worth sacrificing the big backyard you've always wanted? Can you stand a longer commute in order to live closer to family and friends? In short, you've got to make choices about what's most important to you. One factor that seems to be a … [Read more...]

The National Association of Home Builders conducts a survey each month to measure builders' confidence in the market for newly built homes. Because a builder's business depends on being able to accurately gauge consumer interest in buying homes, the survey is considered a good indicator of housing market health. In January, the NAHB's Housing Market Index hit 75 on a scale where any score above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor. Greg Ugalde, NAHB's chairman, says conditions are favorable … [Read more...]

Whether or not you feel like it's a good time to buy or sell a house depends a lot on your perception of the housing market. That's why Fannie Mae conducts a monthly survey to gauge Americans' feelings about current conditions, their financial situation, mortgage rates, home prices, etc. After all, if people have a positive view of the market, they're more likely to make a move. And, according to the most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index, Americans are feeling optimistic right now. Fannie Mae's chief economist, … [Read more...]

Calculating whether or not you can afford to buy a home can be stressful. It's a major financial transaction and it's easy to become overwhelmed when considering all the costs, obligations, and responsibilities. The good news is that many affordability indicators are pointing in the right direction for prospective buyers. For starters, most analysts expect that mortgage rates – already hovering just above historic lows – will remain favorable in 2020. Additionally, Freddie Mac's most recent forecast says home price … [Read more...]

The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in November was higher than the month before, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. In fact, the NAR's Pending Home Sales Index – which measures contract signings not closings – saw a 1.2 percent improvement over the previous month. Contract activity is now 7.4 percent higher than it was last year at the same time. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says buying conditions are favorable but low inventory remains a challenge. … [Read more...]