Housing starts surged unexpectedly in October, suggesting some relief for homebuyers grappling with tight inventory.
Housing starts were up 1.9% last month to a 1.37 million annualized rate, their highest point in three months, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Single-family starts rose a modest 0.2%, adding to a 3.2% month-over-month increase in September, though they remain down 10.6% from the start of 2023. Multifamily starts saw a 6.3% boost to an annualized 402,000 pace.
Permits also increased by 1.1% to 1.49 million, a boon after slipping the month prior. Permits indicate how many homes will be built in the coming months.
Single-family permits rose 0.5% to 968,000, their highest level since May 2022, while multifamily permits jumped…
Mortgage applications jumped last week as rates retreated, sending buyers running to complete deals.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – increased by 2.8%.
Adjusted purchase applications rose by 3%, while the unadjusted index slipped 0.3% from the week before and was 12% lower YOY.
Rates held steady at 7.61% after seeing their largest single-week drop in more than a year the week prior, down 30 bps in three weeks.
But while buyers mid-sale benefitted from the cooldown, rates have not dropped enough to entice many off the sidelines.
“Both purchase and refinance applications increased to the highest weekly pace in five weeks but remain at…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Distressed homeowners who get behind on their mortgage bills are avoiding foreclosure.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey was released last week and it showed that delinquencies increased in the third quarter to a rate of 3.62%, up 25 basis points from the second quarter and 17 basis points from a year ago.
Marina Walsh, MBA’s vice president of industry analysis, said that despite the increase, later-stage delinquencies – those 90 days or more past due – declined to the lowest level since the first quarter of 2020.
“The decline in later-stage delinquencies, along with a foreclosure starts rate of 0.14% – which is well below the historical quarterly average of 0.40% – suggest that distressed…
First-time buyers face yet another dream-killing reality in the hot housing market: they need to earn over $100,000 a year to buy a home.
The median household income needed to buy a home climbed from $88,000 to $107,000 last year, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
This is an annual increase of 22%, the largest on record. It’s also just the second time in NAR’s records that number has topped six figures.
In line with this, typical down payments have soared for both first-timers (8%) and repeat buyers (19%), the highest since 1997 and 2005, respectively.
Unsurprisingly, first-time buyers have taken a hit as affordability worsens, making up just 32% of all…
Even as buying a home is getting more expensive by the day, stock shortages are spurring serious competition among the few buyers on the market.
New listings fell nearly 5% last month, according to Zillow’s latest market report. While inventory is slowly recovering – 5% is actually a smaller decline than seasonally expected – it is still the lowest number of listings in any October recorded by Zillow since 2018.
Still, there are good indicators for inventory. Listings were down 1.2% YOY, the smallest since May 2022, and are down 19% compared to pre-pandemic levels, much better than April’s -35%.
In fact, total inventory actually rose 2.6% from September to October, though this was due to a downturn in sales,…
By SCOTT KIMBLER
As business models in major cities have changed in the post-Covid economy, Atlanta is holding its own as companies and commercial property owners rethink the modern workplace.
Many companies in the metro Atlanta area have altered the workplace to a hybrid model, a work-from-home model, or even a don’t come in at all model, and that is beginning to affect those in the business of commercial real estate ownership.
“There have been some delinquencies in the commercial mortgage industry,” said Sergio Garate, assistant professor in the practice of finance and director of the real estate program and Emory University’s Goizeta Business School. “Especially in the Atlanta area, there have been loan delinquents to levels we haven’t seen…
Treasury yields sank for a second week, pushing mortgage rates down in their largest single-week decline since last November.
Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.5%, down a full quarter point from 7.76%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 7.08%.
The 15-year fixed rate fell from 7.03% to 6.81%. A year ago, it averaged 6.38%.
But while this is undoubtedly good news for homebuyers, market headwinds continue to depress demand.
“Incoming data show that household debt continues to rise, primarily due to mortgage, credit card, and student loan balances,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Many consumers are feeling strained by the high cost of living, so unless mortgage…
In a year of housing market horrors for buyers, now may be the best time to buy, according to a new analysis from Redfin.
In the last three weeks, rates have sunk from 8% to 7.4%, giving buyers breathing room after a succession of rate increases. Just last week, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped by 25 bps, the largest single-week decline since July 2022.
At the same time, though inventory remains low it is on the rise. New listings were up 1.5% YOY at the beginning of November, only the second stock increase in more than a year.
Plus, with demand slowing as rates priced more buyers out of the market, the number of sellers cutting prices is on…
U.S. mortgage rates took their biggest one-week drop in more than a year last week.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported the contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell 25 basis points to 7.61%. That’s the lowest level since the end of September.
Market watchers point to the Federal Reserve’s decision last week to hold interest rates steady as one reason for the slide in mortgage rates, adding to hopes the housing sector will improve in the coming months.
The MBA also reported mortgage applications for home sales rose 3%. Mortgage brokers say it’s no surprise that with a tight market and plenty of frustrated would-be buyers, there was a surge in demand.
Refinancing activity ticked up as the refinance…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Veterans are encouraged to learn more about their home loan benefits after a national survey found that a majority of former service members do not know they are eligible for a zero-down payment plan.
According to information from Realtor.com, just three out of 10 veterans know they can use their VA benefits to buy a home with no money down. That statistic comes from a survey conducted last month.
“VA home loans offer many benefits, especially at times like this when affordability is such a major factor in home purchase decisions. Yet only a small portion of eligible veterans are tapping into the financial benefits they deserve for their service,” Damian Eales, CEO at Realtor.com, said in…
