The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2018 on Wednesday in an effort to combat rising inflation, and economists have mixed feelings about its impact on the housing market. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.8% in February, up 7.9% over the last year, to its highest rate in 40 years. As Americans spend more on less, the impact is becoming apparent. Retail sales rose 0.3% in February, a slowdown in the pace of spending that suggested inflation was taking its toll on American consumers. But while rising prices for gas and groceries may burden American households, it’s things like health insurance and housing that are the “silent killers,” according to Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan professor…
Mortgage loan application volume fell 1.2% last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped 1.2%. The adjusted purchase index fell 1%, while the unadjusted purchase index fell 2% and was 8% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 3% and was down 49% YOY. Refinances made up 48.4% of total applications. Rising mortgage rates continue to impact application activity. Rates reached 4.27% last week, their highest since May 2019, and are adding to investor uncertainty. They’re also having an outsized impact on refis, which declined for both conventional and government loans. Refinances bounced up last week due to a brief drop in rates, though it was…
Single-family rents rose by 12.6% YOY in January to another record high, with Miami leading U.S. cities in rent growth. CoreLogic’s Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI) found that rent growth exploded in January. The increase is especially shocking compared to January 2021’s mere 3.9% annual increase. “Single-family rent growth extended its record-breaking price growth streak to 10 consecutive months in January,” said Molly Boesel, principal economist at CoreLogic. “Rents increased across the country, and the gains were highest in the Sun Belt, which also had strong population growth last year.” All metro areas analyzed by CoreLogic saw annual growth, with Sun Belt cities leading the pack. Miami once again had the highest YOY growth at 38.6%. In January 2021, Miami rents…
The people of the world are watching the horror unfolding in Ukraine, and we at The Mortgage Note want to highlight those in the housing industry who are stepping up to help. News of realtors collecting donations for those affected by the invasion is already spreading. In Winterville, NC, Realty One Group has collected cheer boxes to be donated to Ukrainian refugee children. According to WNCT-TV’s Claire Molle and Courtney Layton, owners Heather Garris and Scott Corbin asked for shoeboxes filled with gifts, toys, and notes for refugee children who fled from Ukraine to Poland. Realtors at Berkshire Hathaway Verani Realty Office in Exeter, NH, boxed up diapers, clothes, and toiletries last week to send to Ukrainian refugees. Mike Cronin…
Mortgage rates rose last week, reversing a brief period of declines brought on by uncertainty surrounding Ukraine, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.85%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.05%. “Following two weeks of declines, mortgage rates rose this week as U.S. Treasury yields increased,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Over the long-term, we expect rates to continue to rise as inflation broadens and shortages increasingly impact many segments of the economy. However, uncertainty about the war in Ukraine is driving rate volatility that likely will continue in the short-term.” The Consumer Price Index reached another high this week, standing at…
U.S. home prices have broken another record: 8% of homes (6 million) are now worth $1 million or more, according to a new report from Redfin. That is nearly double the share from before the pandemic when the share was only 4.8% (3.5 million). The Bay Area has the biggest share of million-dollar homes, with nearly nine out of 10 properties in San Francisco and San Jose making the list. This isn’t surprising given its long history of being the most expensive place to buy a home in the U.S. Anaheim, CA, saw the biggest increase, with its share of million-dollar homes jumping to 55% from 27% two years ago. California dominated the top five, following up with Oakland (55.1%),…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS The CEO of Comey & Shepherd in Cincinnati says there is something to be said for working with realtors and mortgage lenders in person at a time when it seems like more and more of the home buying process can be done from a cell phone. Scott Nelson collects data about what is happening in their market, where the median buyer is 47 years old with a $98,750 annual income. His realtors have been helping people navigate the process of looking for a home through the market’s changes in Ohio, where potential buyers who would use a traditional mortgage are losing out due to a high percentage of cash offers. Nelson estimates that 30% of home purchases…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS A Bel Air megamansion that was listed on the market for $295 million has been purchased at auction by the CEO of Fashion Nova. Richard Saghian, 40, reportedly beat out four other offers for the 105,000-square-foot home. He confirmed he was the winning bidder to the Los Angeles Times. Saghian said the property, with 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, and 7 half baths can never be duplicated. He owns two other houses in southern California, according to the newspaper. “There is nothing else like it. As a lifelong Angeleno and avid collector of real estate, I recognized this as a rare opportunity that also lets me own a unique property that is destined to be a part of…
By JARED WHITLEY Divorce is the number two most stressful event in a person’s life, leading lady Leslie Knope reveals in one episode of “Parks and Recreation,” adding “Of course, marriage is number seven. So, watch out, everyone. It’s all bad.” We face a similar conundrum in the housing market right now. Housing prices have been out of control the last year, and in response, the Fed has announced it will raise interest rates this month. Rates have already surged to their highest point since March 2020 – the start of the coronavirus and its accompanying government damaging overreactions – showing that the salad days of 2% rates on a traditional home loan are over. The question for housing experts to answer…
By DARIA BACHMANN “As a broker, I believe in choice. A broker is supposed to shop around, look for what’s best for the consumer. I don’t want people to coerce me, I try to have freedom as a broker.” That’s the view of Thuan Nguyen, CEO of Loan Factory, who talked to The Mortgage Note about the impact on his company and customers from United Wholesale Mortgage’s anti-competition ultimatum one year ago. UWM’s controversial CEO Mat Ishbia told brokers like the Loan Factory they had to stop working with Rocket Mortgage and Fairway Independent Mortgage if they wanted to keep offering loans from his company. In recent weeks, Ishbia proved his threats were more than mere bullying. He’s taking legal…
