New legislation introduced in the Senate, known as the “Low-income First Time Homebuyer (LIFT) Act,” proposes creating a new 20-year-fixed-rate mortgage program through Ginnie Mae, subsidized by taxpayers. First-time, first-generation homebuyers with an income equal to or less than 120% of the area median income would qualify. Ginnie Mae, along with the Department of the Treasury, would subsidize the interest rate and origination fees for these 20-year mortgages. The result would be a monthly bill in line with a new 30-year FHA-insured mortgage. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA). All except Sen. Kaine are members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, September 24. The Congressional Committee investigating the January 6 riot issued four subpoenas, all for former advisers to Donald Trump. China is cracking down on cryptocurrencies, saying it will root out “illegal” activity and ban crypto mining. The House approved $1 billion for an Israeli missile defense system. And in mortgage and housing news… Fed Correction: FHFA and HUD released a joint statement clarifying Freddie Mac’s policy on buying mortgages secured by group homes. Homeowner Equity Up In Q2: Homeowners with mortgages gained $2.9 trillion in equity in the second quarter of 2021, up 29.3% year-over-year, according to a CoreLogic report. Housing Boom May Not Be Over: Early homebuyer demand reached its highest point in at…
Home prices have fallen a bit in recent weeks thanks to increasing inventory and buyer sticker shock, but expectations of a cooling market may be premature. A new report from Redfin found that early homebuyer demand reached its highest point in at least three years during the four-week period ending September 19. The report showed other housing market measures slowing at a normal rate for the end of summer. Pending sales fell 12% from their 2021 peak, and the number of homes selling above their list price fell. Time on market rose to 20 days. Asking prices also rose 2.4%. While that’s typical for September, the number itself is not: the median asking price rose 11% year-over-year to $359,724, an…
Mortgage rates remained essentially unchanged over the past week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) reports the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.88 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.90 percent. “The slowdown in economic growth around the world has caused a flight to the quality of the U.S. financial markets,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “This has led to a rise in foreign investor purchases of U.S. Treasuries, causing mortgage rates to remain in place, despite the increasing dispersion of inflation across different consumer goods and services.” Khater continued, “On the housing front, homebuyers continue to snap up available inventory, which has improved modestly, and home price growth…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 22. The House passed a bill to keep the government open and prevent a debt default, but Senate Republicans will likely block it. The Taliban asked to participate in the U.N. General Assembly this week to gain international representation. The DOJ and six states are challenging American Airline’s partnership with JetBlue, alleging it violates anti-trust laws. And in mortgage and housing news… Mortgage Loan Apps Up: Mortgage loan application volume rose 4.9% last week, the MBA weekly survey found. Anthony Casa Abuse: The case of Anthony Casa, the AIME Chair who threatened and sexually harassed a competitor’s wife last year, perfectly demonstrates the difficulty of holding individuals accountable, Christine Lenzo writes. August Housing Starts: …
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, September 21. The U.S. is easing travel bans, but will require foreign nationals to show proof of vaccination before entering the country. The Biden administration is raising the cap on refugee admissions to 125,000. A doctor who publicly admitted to performing an abortion after six weeks is being sued, the first case filed under Texas’ controversial abortion law. And in mortgage and housing news… New Home Purchases Down: MBA’s Builder Application Survey data for August 2021 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased from July but fell year-over-year. Commissions Under Investigation: Home sale commissions are under investigation by the Biden administration, which has asked the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules to address any…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, September 19. France recalled its ambassadors from Britain and the U.S. in protest of their secret negotiations with Australia. Natural gas prices are surging, prompting fears about winter shortages. The Biden administration began deporting thousands of Haitians awaiting immigration processing in Texas. And in mortgage and housing news… Will Fed Meeting Affect Interest Rates?: The FOMC is meeting September 21 and 22 to discuss next steps on monetary policy. It probably won’t affect interest rates. Home Sales Down: RE/MAX’s August Annual Housing Report suggests that while the market may still be hot, the busiest months of 2021 may be behind us. Consumer Sentiment Up: Consumer sentiment steadied in September after plunging to its lowest level…
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is meeting September 21 and 22 to discuss the next steps on broad issues related to monetary policy. But in the mortgage industry, there’s only one question on brokers’ minds: What’s going to happen to interest rates? As of today, the best guess is: Not much. Fed-watching is an industry unto itself, and the phrase that’s caught their attention is “substantial further progress.” That’s how Fed Chairman Jerome Powell described the conditions under which the institution would begin reducing its monthly bond purchases — currently $120 billion — as part of his regime of “qualitative easing.” Shrinking the money supply, or even talk of shrinking the supply, is expected to lead to higher interest rates and,…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, September 17. Elizabeth Warren sent letters to 12 regional Fed presidents asking them to ban ownership of individual stocks among top officials at their banks. The World Bank canceled their “Doing Business” report after an investigation found that management tried to alter data. The Justice Department is fighting against a settlement that would prevent citizens from suing the Sackler family. And in mortgage and housing news… No Bias in Mortgage Biz?: Researchers from the American Enterprise Institute Housing Institute claim studies alleging racial bias in mortgage ignore outcomes that undermine their arguments. Rent Growth Tops Home Prices: Rent growth overtook home price growth in August, a Realtor.com report found. Sales Down In August: Redfin reported…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, September 16. The FDA found that an additional shot of Pfizer boosts immune response, but the typical two-shot regimen is still effective. The U.S., Britain, and Australia are teaming up to launch nuclear-powered submarines to patrol the South China Sea. Olympic gymnasts abused by Larry Nasser blamed the F.BI., USA Gymnastics, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for not responding to accusations in 2015. And in mortgage and housing news… Interest Rates Flat Again: Freddie Mac’s PMMS showed interest rates barely moved for another week, with 30-year fixed-rates averaging 2.86%. “Middlemen”: Mat Ishbia says UWM’s in-house appraisal program will speed things up by removing AMCs, which needlessly hinder closing times. Non-banks Non-primes Down: Fitch…
