Multifamily Investment Opportunities Slipping As Property Prices, Rates Rise

Investment opportunities in multifamily housing slipped in Q1 2022, with the Freddie Mac Multifamily Apartment Investment Market Index (AIMI) falling by 4.8% from Q4 2021 and 2.4% year-over-year. AIMI analyzes multifamily rental income growth, property price growth, and mortgage rates to measure multifamily market investment conditions. A decline such as this indicates that attractive investment opportunities are becoming more difficult to find. For the second quarter in a row, increases in net operating income (NOI) were overwhelmed by property price growth and rising interest rates.  AIMI fell nationally and in 18 of the 25 individual markets analyzed by Freddie Mac. Only seven markets experienced growth. Quarter-over-quarter NOI grew 2.5% and was up in every metro. Miami saw the fastest increase…

Rates Surge In Largest One-Week Increase On Record

Mortgage rates exploded this week, rising from an average of 5.23% to 5.78%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.  It is the largest one-week increase in the history of the GSE’s survey, which dates back to 1987. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.78%, up from last week’s 5.23%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.93%. “These higher rates are the result of a shift in expectations about inflation and the course of monetary policy,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Higher mortgage rates will lead to moderation from the blistering pace of housing activity that we have experienced coming out of the pandemic, ultimately resulting in a more…

Mortgage Rates Break Downward Streak, Rising To 5.23%

Mortgage rates broke their downward streak this week, rising to an average of 5.23%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.23%, up from last week’s 5.09%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.96%. “After little movement the last few weeks, mortgage rates rose again on the back of increased economic activity and incoming inflation data,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “The housing market is incredibly rate-sensitive, so as mortgage rates increase suddenly, demand again is pulling back. The material decline in purchase activity, combined with the rising supply of homes for sale, will cause a deceleration in price growth to more normal…

Rates Hover At 5.09%

Mortgage rates stayed relatively flat last week, falling just slightly to an average of 5.09%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.09%, down from last week’s 5.10%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.99%. “Mortgage rates continued to inch downward this week but are still significantly higher than last year, affecting affordability and purchase demand,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “Heading into the summer, the potential homebuyer pool has shrunk, supply is on the rise and the housing market is normalizing. This is welcome news following unprecedented market tightness over the last couple of years.” Mortgage purchase applications are down 14% YOY…

Mortgage Rates Drop For A Second Week

Mortgage rates dropped for yet another week to an average of 5.10%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.10%, down from last week’s 5.25%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.95%. “Mortgage rates decreased for the second week in a row due to multiple headwinds that the economy is facing,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “Despite the recent moderation in rates, the housing market has clearly slowed, and the deceleration is spreading to other segments of the economy, such as consumer spending on durable goods.” 5-year ARMs did rise, however, from 4.08% a week ago to 4.20%. ARMs have become appealing to…

Share Of Forborne Loans Falls To 0.94% Of Servicers’ Portfolios

The number of loans in forbearance fell 11% in April from 1.05% of servicers’ portfolio volume to 0.94%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Loan Monitoring Survey. MBA now estimates that 470,000 homeowners remain in forbearance plans. Of Fannie and Freddie loans, the number in forbearance dropped 6 basis points to 0.43%. Ginnie Mae loans saw an 11 basis point drop to 1.49%, while PLS and portfolio loans saw a 29 point decline to 2.15%. “With the number of borrowers in forbearance decreasing to less than half a million, the pace of monthly forbearance exits reached its lowest level since MBA started tracking exits in June 2020,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis. “Servicers are…

Morning Roundup (5/13/2022) – Eco-Friendly Homes, Rates Rise Again

Good Morning! Today is Friday, May 13. The baby formula shortage is wreaking havoc on parents who don’t know if their child is getting enough to eat. Senator Rand Paul delayed a bipartisan effort to send $40 billion in aid to Ukraine. Cryptocurrency prices collapsed this week. The Mortgage Note Reports Eco-Friendly Homes: Guild Mortgage has partnered with The Home Depot to help buyers bundle the cost of new energy-efficient appliances into their home loan. Editor Kimberley Haas reports. Rates Up: Mortgage rates averaged 5.30% last week, and Freddie’s Sam Khater said they expect monetary policy and inflation to discourage many consumers moving forward. Gordon Confirmed: In a narrow victory decided by a tie-breaking vote, Julia Gordon has been confirmed as Assistant Secretary of HUD and Commissioner of the FHA. And in other…

Another Week Of Rate Increases

Mortgage rates inched up to an average 5.30% last week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.30%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.96%. “Homebuyers continue to show resilience even though rising mortgage rates are causing monthly payments to increase by about one-third as compared to a year ago,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Several factors are contributing to this dynamic, including the large wave of first-time homebuyers looking to realize the dream of homeownership. In the months ahead, we expect monetary policy and inflation to discourage many consumers, weakening purchase demand and decelerating home price growth.” Affordability dropped in Q1 2022,…

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…

Rates Shoot Back Up After One-Week Reversal

Mortgage rates shot back up after a one-week reversal of their upward trend, averaging 5.29% last week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.29%, up from 5% last week. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.96%. “Mortgage rates resumed their climb this week as the 30-year fixed reached its highest point since 2009,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “While housing affordability and inflationary pressures pose challenges for potential buyers, house price growth will continue but is expected to decelerate in the coming months.” Affordability dropped in Q1 2022, with monthly mortgage payments on the typical home rising to $1,383 (+30% YOY). Homeowners…