Experts Weigh In: When Mortgage Rates Drop, Will Home Prices Surge?

By ERIN FLYNN JAY It is being speculated that once interest rates drop, a number of buyers will jump into the housing market, causing another surge in prices. We spoke to some industry leaders to get their take. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors, said this is true. “Buyers who were priced out of the housing market with rates at nearly 7% will be able to purchase. Due to limited housing inventory, the housing market may see a rebound in multiple offers, which will put upward demand on housing prices,” said Lautz. She said a significant portion of homes are already selling at above the asking price. “Currently, there are…

Spring Is Here: What To Expect This Season

By CHUCK GREEN As the traditional spring homebuying season begins, a lack of inventory, high interest rates, and economic uncertainty due to banking troubles have dominated the news. So what can people expect? Rick Sharga, president and CEO of CJ Patrick Company in California, told The Mortgage Note that it’s “unlikely to be a banner period for home sales. Extremely low inventory of homes for sale coupled with poor affordability are likely to keep sales activity fairly weak, even though seasonal trends usually see sales and prices increase during the spring and summer months.” Although the second quarter is typically the peak season for home sales, that has been disrupted in recent years, noted Sharga. “This seasonal trend didn’t happen…