Pending home sales rebounded in October after a September drop, though the year-over-year (YOY) numbers were mild, according to the National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index. The Index, which is based on contract signings, rose 7.5% to 125.2 in October. An index of 100 is equivalent to the level of contract activity in 2001. However, signings fell 1.4% YOY. “Motivated by fast-rising rents and the anticipated increase in mortgage rates, consumers that are on strong financial footing are signing contracts to purchase a home sooner rather than later,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “This solid buying is a testament to demand still being relatively high, as it is occurring during a time when inventory is still…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, November 11. Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges. An SUV that drove into a Wisconsin holiday parade killed at least five people and wounded 40. Two Fox News contributors resigned in protest of a Tucker Carlson documentary featuring debunked conspiracy theories. And in mortgage and housing news… Existing Home Sales: Existing-home sales rose in October for the second month straight, though sales year-over-year are down 5.8%. Zillow Lawsuit: Investors are suing Zillow, saying they made misleading statements about the financial security of Zillow Offers. The law firm helming the claim has put out a call for investors who lost big to join in. Auctions This Week: The Treasury Department is holding auctions for two-,…
Existing-home sales rose in October for the second month straight, though sales year-over-year (YOY) dropped, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales of existing homes rose 0.8% from September to October, at a seasonally adjusted rate of 6.34 million. However, sales fell 5.8% YOY, down from 6.73 million in October 2020. “Home sales remain resilient, despite low inventory and increasing affordability challenges,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “Inflationary pressures, such as fast-rising rents and increasing consumer prices, may have some prospective buyers seeking the protection of a fixed, consistent mortgage payment.” Though sales were down compared to the same time last year, prices were up: the median price for an existing home was $353,900, up 13.1% from October…
Mortgage loan application volume fell 2.8% last week, driven again by low refinance applications, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey reported. The Market Composite Index, which measures application volume, fell 2.8% on an adjusted basis. The Refinance Index dropped 5% and was 31% lower than a year ago, rebounding from last week’s drop to its lowest level since July 2021. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index rose 2%, while the unadjusted Purchase Index fell 2% compared to the week before, down 6% from the previous year. “Refinance applications decreased for the seventh time in eight weeks, as mortgage rates moved higher after two weeks of declines,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting. But the…
A typical home spent just one week on the market before going under contract, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors. Their annual Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers — “real estate’s definitive guide on home buyer and seller trends” — reported on the pace of home sales between July 2020 and June 2021. By comparison, the average in 2012 was eleven weeks. “Buyers moving quickly during the pandemic, coupled with all-time-low inventory, led to a decline in time on market to the shortest ever recorded, which was just one week,” said Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at NAR. “Only a quarter of home sellers offered incentives to entice potential buyers, down from…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, November 8. A federal appeals court in Louisianna temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate. Foreign travelers may now enter the US with proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test. A “concert surge” in Houston left eight dead and prompted a criminal investigation. And in mortgage and housing news… Rocket Q3 Results: Rocket Companies’ Q3 revenue bested analyst expectations, and the company expects to top 10% market share in 2022. Housing Shortage “A Mirage”: Going against industry consensus, housing analyst Ivy Zelman claims that housing production is already ahead of normalized demand. “We’re Going To Have To Build A Lot Of Homes”: On the other hand, lumber firm Weyerhaeuser’s CEO predicts the housing market will remain strong for five to ten more…
Housing stakeholders gathered at the nation’s capitol to call for the budget reconciliation package being negotiated in Congress to substantially support housing. The group included National Association of Realtors (NAR) CEO Bob Goldberg, members of the National Housing Conference (NHC), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Habitat for Humanity, National Association of Homebuilders, and others. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, also attended. “Housing is fundamental to an economy that works for all. Democrats and President Biden understand this,” Chairman Brown said in his speech. “Robust housing investments support families and kids, improve health outcomes, and address climate change – while creating…
Housing affordability improved in August for the second straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) housing affordability index report. Month-over-month, mortgage payments fell by only 1.1%, while median family income fell by 0.7%. The index hit a low of 146.5 in June but rose to 151.3 in August. But affordability declined year-over-year (YOY), with monthly mortgage payments rising 13.9% to $1,210 from August 2020. Median family income rose only 3.9%. The effective 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 2.89% in August compared to 3% a year ago. The median existing-home sales price rose 15.6% YOY. Home prices are in a seasonal cool-down, which could account for the numbers. But consumer sentiment on home buying continues to trend downward,…
Home sale commissions are under investigation by the Biden administration, which has asked the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules to address any unfair practices it sees in the real estate industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Justice Department is investigating commissions after several civil lawsuits challenging industry rules passed muster in procedural challenges. Critics of traditional broker fees say rising home prices have highlighted an epidemic of excessive fees. Real estate agent fees are typically 5%-6% of the sale price. Homebuyers end up paying part of these fees through the purchase price but have little control over fees because they are set by the seller. Consumer advocates have specifically pointed to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) rules…
After eight years of examining its impact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says that student loan debt is one of the most significant barriers for potential homebuyers. A poll by NAR found that more than half of non-homeowners say their student loan debt has delayed their ability to buy a home. Of 1,995 respondents, 51% said their student loan debt delayed them from buying a home, with 47% saying it prevents them from saving for a down payment. For millennials, that number jumps to 60%. Forty-six percent of debt holders say they would use their additional funds to buy a home if their loans weren’t an issue. “Housing affordability is worsening, leaving future home buyers with student debt at…
