By ERIN FLYNN JAY
Holiday home shoppers who are sensitive to mortgage interest rates near 8% may resist the idea of buying before Thanksgiving, hoping that Santa Claus brings relief, but is waiting until Christmas the answer this season?
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve held its target range for the federal funds rate at 5.25% to 5.5%, and mortgage rates slipped in anticipation of the news. But Orphe Divounguy, senior macroeconomist at Zillow Home Loans, warned that investors will likely recalculate their inflation forecasts based on employment and wage growth data, “causing large swings in mortgage rates.”
That means uncertainty for homebuyers.
Matt Ronne, senior loan officer with Motto Mortgage Preferred Brokers in Athens, TN, said that this year, with…
By ERIN FLYNN JAY
As the housing crunch continues throughout the country, some cities are planning for growth when it comes to building homes for average families.
Mark Buskuhl, owner of Ninebird Properties, a Texas-based investment firm, said Dallas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and has been a top destination for families looking to relocate.
“With its booming job market and affordable cost of living, it’s no surprise that Dallas is planning for growth when it comes to building housing for the average American family,” he said.
Buskuhl said the city has implemented initiatives to increase housing options, such as the “GrowSouth” program which focuses on revitalizing and developing housing in southern Dallas. Additionally, the city…
By ERIN FLYNN JAY
Return to the office mandates and the continued desire for a better quality of life are affecting Americans as they decide where to move in 2023.
Companies that allowed employees to work remotely during and immediately after the Covid pandemic are reversing course this year. On Sept. 5, Meta’s requirement that employees assigned to an office show up at least three days a week went into effect.
With the policy change, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company joined Google and other major employers that are pulling the plug on remote work despite advances in technology that allow people to log in from anywhere. Some analysts argue that it is a leadership preference, while others point out that…
By ERIN FLYNN JAY
Inflation has affected the housing market as higher costs of living puts more stress on the average person’s finances.
The average American household spent $709 more in July than they did two years ago to buy the same goods and services, according to Moody’s Analytics.
“High inflation of the past 2+ years has done lots of economic damage,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Rick Sharga, President & CEO of CJ Patrick Company, said among other things, inflation makes it harder for renters to save money for a down payment, and as home prices tend to go up over time, the amount of…
By ERIN FLYNN JAY
The city of Philadelphia, like many other communities in the country, is caught in a balancing act. High rents and a lack of affordable housing are a problem, but at the same time, building reduces much-needed green spaces for residents.
What are city leaders doing to tackle these issues?
Vern Anastasio, Esq. with Anastasio Law, LLC who runs Philly Zoning, online resources for property owners and investors, said two city council districts now have affordable housing mandates through zoning overlays for any new multi-family building with 10 or more units.
“What we are seeing, however, in at least one of those districts, is a sharp decline in permits being applied for that would qualify for this…
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…
By ERIN FLYNN JAY
American homebuyers are getting older and industry leaders are preparing to welcome more Hispanic homeowners in the coming decades.
According to the 2023 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report by the National Association of Realtors, members of Gen X between 43 and 57 years old made up 24% of recent buyers. They were followed closely by younger Baby Boomers who, between 58 and 67 years old, represented 23% of recent buyers.
Older Millenials between the ages of 33 and 42 accounted for just 16% of recent purchases.
The typical first-time homebuyer is 36, and the typical repeat buyer’s age climbed to 59 last year. Those are the highest ages recorded, a press release for NAR’s…
