By SCOTT KIMBLER Potential homebuyers are rushing to mortgage offices to make sure they get a loan before prices and interest rates go even higher. Mortgage rates jumped again to an average of 4.67%, up from last week’s 4.42%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. At the same time, the spring selling season is looking promising for sellers. Home prices rose 1.84% in February and 19.6% year-over-year – the largest annual gains on record – according to Black Knight’s Monthly Mortgage Monitor Report. These numbers, along with an awkward supply and demand situation, are pushing some buyers who are in a position to do so to go ahead with their home purchase now. Jerry Stover, sales manager with Homeowners Financial, said this has been…
As homebuyer demographics change, Millennials and Gen Z are set to play a major role in the housing market this year, according to a new report from ServiceLink. ServiceLink’s 2022 State of Homebuying Report uses information from 1,000 homeowners who purchased a home in the last five years to analyze generational trends in homebuying. The report found that Millennials and Gen Z are making big moves in the housing market and are open to non-traditional routes to homeownership. “As bidding wars, low inventory and rising interest rates continue to intensify the competition, buyers have had to get creative in order to come out ahead in this challenging real estate market,” said Dave Steinmetz, president of origination services, ServiceLink. “Our study…
Mortgage loan application volume fell by 6.3% to its lowest level since the spring of 2019, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 6.3%. The adjusted purchase index fell by 3%, while the unadjusted purchase index fell by 3% and was 9% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 10% and was down 62% YOY. Refinances made up just 38.8% of total applications, down from 40.6%. Mortgage rates hit 4.90% in their fourth straight week of increases, putting further pressure on dwindling refinances. Rates are now up 1.5 percentage points from the same time last year. “The hot job market and rapid wage growth continue to…
Stock shortages continue to drive home price appreciation, with February home prices rising 20% YOY and 2.2% from the prior month, according to CoreLogic’s Home Price Index. Annual appreciation of detached properties was 4.8 percentage points higher (21.1%) than attached properties (16.3%). Sun Belt states led the record high price appreciation. Naples, FL, saw the highest YOY price increase at 41.4%, with Cape Coral close behind at 40%. The four metros with the largest annual price gains were all on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Florida saw the strongest growth of all states at 29.1% YOY, followed by Arizona (28.6%) and Nevada (25.8%). CoreLogic says the record growth can be traced to record-low inventory, which forces buyers to compete for a limited…
Home prices rose 1.84% in February and 19.6% year-over-year, the largest annual gains on record, according to Black Knight’s Monthly Mortgage Monitor Report. The 1.84% increase is nearly four times the 25-year average for the month and marks the 14th consecutive month of greater than 1% price growth. The average home has now increased in value by more than 34% since February 2020. All of the markets analyzed by Black Knight experienced double-digit annual home price growth in February 2022. Three-quarters of them saw continued acceleration of appreciation. Home price growth cooled off briefly last fall but reaccelerated in winter despite rising rates. Affordability is now at its lowest ever point outside of 2004-2007. The monthly principal and interest payment…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, April 4. Ukraine accused Russian forces of executing civilians in a Kyiv suburb before retreating. At least six people were killed after gunfire erupted in downtown Sacramento, California. Tesla CEO Elon Musk disclosed a 9% stake in Twitter. The Mortgage Note Reports Young Buyers Priced Out: The share of younger home buyers is declining after peaking in 2020, but is higher in more affordable metros. Geneva CCO: Kelly Singh has joined direct mortgage lender Geneva Financial as its Chief Compliance Officer. In Case You Missed It: People in the mortgage and real estate industries are speculating on whether 2022 will be a year of growth or the start of the end for a red-hot market…
Kelly Singh has joined direct mortgage lender Geneva Financial as its Chief Compliance Officer, the company announced in a press release. Singh brings 17 years of risk and compliance operations experience in both large and small businesses to the company. Prior to joining Geneva, Singh served as Director of Business Risk and Controls at USAA. She has also worked for LenderLive Network as vice president of Fulfillment Operations and Conduit Services, and vice president of Compliance at Integrated Asset Services, according to her LinkedIn. “We are honored to welcome Kelly Singh to Geneva,” said Telle VanTrojen, COO and Partner of Geneva Financial. “She will provide invaluable guidance as we continue to experience unprecedented growth. The level of experience and professionalism…
The share of young homebuyers under the age of 30 has dropped below pre-pandemic levels as the affordability crisis prices them out of the market, according to a survey by CoreLogic. Young homebuyers took advantage of historically low-interest rates in 2020, accounting for 22% of homebuyers, a record high for the age group. But the share fell back to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 and further declined at the beginning of 2022. Controlled for seasonality, the share of young homebuyers in January and February 2022 is at a ten-year low. Markets in the Midwest have a higher portion of young homebuyers than coastal areas. More affordable metros have the highest share as young homebuyers – who typically have lower incomes and…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, April 1. Russia’s defense ministry announced a cease-fire in Mariupol. The U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russian technology companies. The House passed a bill to limit the cost of insulin to $35 a month, sending it to the Senate. The Mortgage Note Reports Rates Rise: Mortgage rates jumped again to an average of 4.67%. Forbearances Up Slightly: Forbearances rose slightly again last week, though new plan starts dropped to 10,100, the lowest level in four months. And in other mortgage and housing news… Jobs Report: The unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in March, while payrolls saw big gains, according to Labor Department data. Listing In April: Homes listed for sale in the second half of…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS As the spring selling season begins, people in the mortgage and real estate industries are speculating on whether 2022 will be a year of growth or the start of the end for a red-hot market that has favored sellers and forced up the price of housing in many parts of the country. Numbers from the start of the year look promising for growth. On Tuesday, S&P Dow Jones Indices released the latest results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices. A 19.2% annual gain was reported in January, up from 18.9% in December. The 10-City Composite annual increase was 17.5%, up from 17.1% in December. The 20-City Composite posted a 19.1% year-over-year gain, up from 18.6% in the previous…
