Housing Costs Will Affect Voters In November

More than half of homeowners and renters will partly base their choice for President on housing affordability. That’s according to a new survey commissioned by Redfin and conducted by Qualtrics last month.  The survey found that 53.2% of respondents will be informed by housing in November’s presidential election. On top of that, 64.2% of homeowners and renters said the state of housing makes them feel negative about the economy.  “Housing affordability is top of mind for voters because elevated mortgage rates and home prices, along with an acute housing shortage, have pushed the dream of homeownership out of reach for many Americans,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.  Analysts say the economy is actually doing well by many metrics, but…

Election 2024: Biden’s Housing Problem

By KIMBERLEY HAAS With just weeks left before the Iowa caucus and the presidential primary in New Hampshire, home affordability is weighing on the minds of voters and at least one leading economist says the issue could take center stage as the race for the White House heats up. Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin, has said that President Joe Biden will be forced to make home affordability a cornerstone of his reelection bid. “Even though the overall economy is strong, high housing costs are making many Americans feel poor,” Fairweather said in her recent release on housing predictions for 2024. “Home prices are up more than 20% since President Biden took office. That’s a problem for his re-election bid:…

What Will It Take To Get Millennials In Homes?

Despite being the largest cohort of potential homebuyers in the country, Millennials are lagging behind other generations in purchases. That applies to Baby Boomers now – who are snatching up the few homes for sale thanks to home equity and greater savings – and Boomers when they were the same age as Millennials today. Just over 50% of Millennials owned a home in 2022, compared with 56.5% of Boomers in 1990 and 58.2% of Gen X in 2006. Even the youngest generation, Gen Z, is tracking ahead of Millennials in homeownership at the same age. A combination of forces has made it difficult for Millennials to become homeowners. Ongoing bouts of economic uncertainty in 2001, 2008, and today have hindered…

Home Values Slip For Second Month Straight

The value of a typical American home dropped for the second straight month, down 0.3% from July to August in the largest monthly dip since 2011. Zillow’s latest market report found that affordability is directing market declines, with lower-priced homes staying hotly competitive while expensive markets see drastic declines. The U.S. typical home value is now $356,054. Areas that saw big gains during the pandemic are now susceptible to fast drops, losing their appreciation momentum from the Great Migration. Midwestern markets, which tend to be more affordable, remain hot, while Western markets are comparatively tanking. Volatile mortgage rates are impacting these areas as borrowers find it increasingly hard to even qualify for a loan, let alone house-hunt. “Substantial day-to-day and…

Americans Predict A Housing Market Crash– And Zoomers Are Hoping For It

As the housing correction continues, most Americans have a gloomy outlook for the market’s future. A ConsumerAffairs survey found that 78% of Americans expect the housing market to crash and soon. More than half of baby boomers said they believe 2023 will bring a housing crisis. Most Zoomers went so far as to say they’re hoping for one– 84% want a market crash because they believe it will help them buy their first home. Gen Zers overwhelmingly want to own their own homes, with 59% identifying homeownership as a sign of success. But many are worried they may never be able to afford a home if prices continue rising as they have in the last two years. “Non-homeowners cite insufficient…

Housing Market Cooling To Feb 2020 Levels

Zonda’s New Home Pending Sales Index for June 2022 finds the housing market cooling to levels seen in February 2020. The New Home PSI posted a reading of 125.5 for June, down 7.5% YOY and 27.9% below cycle highs. It measures new home orders and average sales rate per community. New home sales dropped month-over-month by 0.2%, the fifth straight month of declines. The new home orders component fell 10.5% YOY, while the average sales rate per community component fell 8.2% YOY. “Home sellers and home buyers are adjusting to a new reality in the housing market,” said Ali Wolf, Zonda’s chief economist.  “Home sellers are quickly understanding the days of frenzied demand are behind us and it takes an…

June Home Purchase Apps Down 12% YOY

New home purchase applications fell 12% YOY in June, and were down 10% from May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Builder Application Survey. New single-family home sales ran at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 620,000 units in June, down 14.7% from May’s pace of 727,000 units. The unadjusted rate was estimated to be 57,000 home sales, down 6.6% from 61,000 in May. New home sales are estimated using mortgage application information and assumptions regarding market coverage and other factors. “Higher mortgage rates and heightened economic uncertainty cooled borrower demand in June, leading to new-home purchase applications declining to the lowest level since April 2020,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting.  “Additionally, new…

Inventory Rebounded In June

Housing inventory rebounded in June, rising 2% across the country, according to a new report from Redfin. This is the first annual inventory increase since July 2019. Rising mortgage rates, home price appreciation, and a looming recession have pushed some potential homebuyers to the sidelines. Home sales were down almost 16% YOY, the largest drop since May 2020. “The country’s economic woes have already cooled the housing market, and they’re likely to continue dampening demand,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.  “The Fed has signaled it may increase interest rates further to combat stubbornly high inflation, which could harm consumer confidence, and lower stock prices mean fewer prospective homebuyers can afford a down payment.” Housing affordability is at its lowest…

Consumer Sentiment On Housing Hits Lowest Level Since May 2020

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Consumers across the country continue to report difficult homebuying conditions due to inflation, higher mortgage rates, and home price appreciation. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, says that in April their Home Purchase Sentiment Index fell to its lowest level since the spring of 2020. The percentage of respondents who said it is a good time to buy a home decreased from 24% to 19%, while the percentage who said it is a bad time to buy increased from 73% to 76%. As a result, the net share of those who say it is a good time to buy decreased 8 percentage points month over month, according to the survey. “The current lack…

More Sellers Are Dropping Asking Prices As Monthly Mortgage Payments Rise 42% YOY

As affordability declines, the hot housing market is starting to see signs of cooling. In April, 15% of home sellers dropped their asking prices, a 5.9% YOY increase, Redfin reported. The increase is a six-month-high and the largest annual gain on Redfin’s record, which dates back to 2015. But buyers still outnumber sellers, so the market remains competitive and homes priced affordably continue to sell for more than asking. New listings of homes for sale were down 6% YOY and have dwindled since mid-March. The median asking price of newly listed homes rose 16% YOY to $408,458, a new all-time high. So even as more sellers are dropping prices to entice buyers, their returns are still significant. “Homebuyers continue to…