Potential homebuyers are responding to lower mortgage rates and a higher supply of homes for sale. That fueled mortgage demand last week, as consumers looking to refinance pulled back. Total mortgage application volume rose 2.8% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. An additional adjustment was made for […]

One of the best ways to build your family’s financial future is through homeownership. The Federal Reserve reports the net worth of a homeowner is actually over 40 times greater than that of a renter. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about buying a home, especially when they’re so affordable in today’s market. Every three […]

Existing Home Sales, which reflect closings on existing homes, fell for the secondstraight month in September, down 1% from August and 3.5% from a year ago. The3.84-million-unit pace represents a 14-year low as NAR’s Chief Economist, LawrenceYun, noted that “home sales have been essentially stuck at around a four-million-unitpace for the past 12 months.” Regarding […]

Since the Fed cut rates 50 basis points on September 18th, we’ve seen 30-year fixed mortgage rates rise meaningfully. You may be wondering how this can be. The Fed is reducing the Fed Funds Rate, which is not mortgage rates or even a long-term rate. The Fed Funds Rate is a very short-term rate, literally […]

On average, 40% of builders’ single-family home sales so far in 2024 have been made to first-time home buyers, according to the most recent NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey (HMI).  That share has doubled since 2016, when only 19% of builders’ sales went to first-time buyers. Our limited time-series on this topic in the […]

After months of anticipation, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Wednesday by half a percentage point. That will have an impact on the housing market — but it’s unlikely to make a huge difference for those struggling to afford a home. Mortgage rates might not actually drop much further right now Mortgage rates have been pretty […]

Mortgage interest is the fee you pay for borrowing money to buy a home. It’s calculated as a percentage of the loan amount and is paid over the life of the mortgage. This interest rate can be fixed or adjustable and is added to your monthly payments throughout the loan term.  For example, with a […]

The housing market has been tough in 2024, with stubbornly high mortgage rates keeping many homebuyers on the sidelines. But in August, a light appeared at the end of this tunnel when rates dropped to yearlong lows—below 6.5% for a 30-year fixed home loan. And with the Federal Reserve signaling a much awaited interest rate cut in September that […]

While the Federal Reserve doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, it influences them by making changes to the federal funds rate, the interest rate that banks charge each other for short-term loans. The Fed’s decisions alter the price of credit, which has a domino effect on mortgage rates and the broader housing market.  “When the Fed […]

Monthly housing payments have dropped to their lowest level in four months, but homebuyers and sellers aren’t yet reacting. In addition to pending home sales falling, new listings posted their smallest increase in three months.  The median U.S. monthly housing payment was $2,667 during the four weeks ending July 28, its lowest level since March. […]