Mortgage applications fell last week even as rates dipped for the first time in three weeks.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – decreased by 1.2%, changing course after last week’s 3.7% increase.
Adjusted purchase applications fell by 2%, while the unadjusted index was down 1% from the week before and 32% lower YOY.
The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans dipped from 6.55% to 6.50%, 114 bps higher than the same time last year.
“Elevated rates continue to both impact homebuyer affordability and weaken demand for refinancing. Home purchase activity has been very sensitive to rates and local market trends, including the very low…
Low inventory continues to push home prices up, but the market downturn is taking its toll on that growth.
CoreLogic’s Home Price Index for March found prices nationwide up 3.1% YOY, the 134th straight month of growth but the lowest rate of appreciation since 2012.
Prices fell YOY in ten states, mostly concentrated in the West. Washington (-7.4%), Idaho (-3.6%), Nevada (-3.5%) topped the list of greatest declines.
The West saw explosive growth in the pandemic housing boom, but prices rose too high and too fast while inventory lagged. At the same time, demand for the most expensive tier of homes has dwindled as Americans impacted by the high rate environment and economic pressures prioritize affordability above all.
Competition for…
Net new listings and contract volume have officially declined for twelve straight months, according to new data from HouseCanary.
HouseCanary’s latest Market Pulse report, which covers 22 listing-derived metrics and compares data between April 2022 and April 2023, shows market activity was significantly hindered in the first month of Q2.
“As we enter May 2023, the real estate market continues to experience uncertainty, with the purchasing market slowdown being one of the key trends observed for over a year now,” Jeremy Sicklick, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HouseCanary, said.
Contract and net new listing volume both fell annually, down 17.8% and 39.8%, respectively.
Listings were hit particularly hard by a nearly 45% YOY increase in removals.
Home sellers who…
By BERTHA GARRETT
Across the United States, marijuana laws are being relaxed, and legal marijuana programs are being introduced. The ongoing legalization of marijuana has impacts on many areas of society, including the rental market, and it’s important for both landlords and tenants to be aware of the latest developments.
Impact of Marijuana Legalization on the Rental Market
Clearly, attitudes toward marijuana have changed a great deal in recent years. California has a great influence on the decision to legalize cannabis and led the way with its legalization, with many other states following the trend and others currently in the process of preparing their own plans to make marijuana and cannabis products more accessible.
When it comes to the rental…
Pending home sales sank in March as rate-sensitive buyers continued to skirt the market, according to the National Association of Realtors.
NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index declined by 5.2% between February and March. Year-over-year, it dropped by 23.2%.
All four regions saw pending sales fall YOY, and three of the four saw contract signings shrink. Signings increased slightly in the South as the region continues to attract buyers chasing affordability and sunny weather.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun pointed to tight inventory as the main hindrance to sales.
“Multiple offers are still occurring on about a third of all listings, and 28% of homes are selling above list price. Limited housing supply is simply not meeting demand nationally,” he said.…
Mortgage applications rose last week despite rates jumping to their highest point in more than a month.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – increased by 3.7%, changing course after last week’s 8.8% decrease.
Adjusted purchase applications rose by 5%, while the unadjusted index was up 6% from the week before and 28% lower YOY.
The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans jumped from 6.43% to 6.55%, a second week of increases and the highest level in more than a month.
“Both conventional and government home purchase applications increased last week. However, activity was still nearly 28% below last year’s pace, as high mortgage rates…
New home sales increased by more than expected in March but remain down significantly from last year, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Sales rose by 9.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 683,000, compared to just 1.1% in February.
Sales remain down 3.4% YOY, which boasted an annual rate of 707,000.
The seasonally‐adjusted estimate of new houses for sale was 432,000, representing a supply of 7.6 months at the current sales rate.
Inventory remains tight even as more people are home-shopping this spring. As a result, home prices unexpectedly rose in February.
“Homebuyers are window shopping and many are entering the store, but few of them are…
Data released today shows a modest increase in home prices took place in February.
Year-over-year, prices increased by 2%, down from 3.7% in the previous month, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price NSA Index.
The 20-City Composite posted a 0.4% year-over-year gain, down from 2.6% in the previous month.
“February’s results were most interesting because of their stark regional differences… It’s unsurprising that the Southeast (+7.8%) remains the country’s strongest region, while the West (-4.2%) continues as the weakest,” noted Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director at S&P DJI.
West Coast hubs that saw huge migration during the pandemic remained negative YOY in February, with San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, and Portland all experiencing declines.
Southern cities continued…
Home shoppers following rates closely jumped on retreating rates in March, giving the spring buying season a boost.
Black Knight’s March 2023 Originations Monitor showed that rate lock dollar volume exploded in March, up 43%, as rates retreated due to economic uncertainty.
Lock volumes rose in all categories. Purchase locks were up 44% month-over-month, significantly higher than its average of 30% across the last five years.
“This continues to be an incredibly rate-sensitive housing market, and March’s rate lock activity perfectly illustrates this dynamic,” said Andy Walden, vice president of enterprise research at Black Knight.
He explained that rates were inching up at the beginning of the month, but came down later in March due to banking sector turmoil.
“The…
Gen Z is proving that young Americans want to be homeowners and are willing to prioritize it.
According to new Redfin data, Gen Z is ahead of Millennials when it comes to homeownership, with 37% of Gen Z respondents already owning a home or planning to purchase one within the next five years.
Only 32% of Millennials said they have taken that step or plan to within the same time frame.
“The rising tide lifted Gen Z homebuyers in 2020 and 2021; they were part of the pandemic-driven homebuying frenzy,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.
Gen Z is more likely to prioritize homeownership as a financial goal, with 60% of Gen Z respondents citing it as a top priority…
