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☆ The Fed holds interest rates steady. What that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates, but even then they will only ease off extremely high levels. That's up from 4.4% when the Fed started raising rates in March 2022 and 3.27% at the end of 2021, according to Bankrate. Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae, expects mortgage rates will end the year at 6.4%, but that won't provide much of a boost for would-be homebuyers. If rates come down and it ramps up demand and there's no supply, the only thing that happens is that home prices go up." Once the Fed cuts rates, "that gives people a little more breathing room," Drury said.

Persons: Brett House, Ted Rossman, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, Duncan, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Columbia Business School, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

Strong economic data has pushed back expectations of when mortgage rates will drop, but experts still believe they'll go down this year. This means that mortgage rates may remain elevated for at least a few more months. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 15-year Fixed Mortgage RatesLast week, average 15-year mortgage rates were 6.29%, a 17-basis-point increase from the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. Once the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: they'll, Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan, Freddie Mac, you'll, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow Locations: Chevron

☆ How to take pictures of the 2024 solar eclipse: 11 tips from the pros to snap the most dramatic photos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Kelly Burch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

NASA's Scientific Visualization StudioTens to hundreds of millions of people across the US will get to experience a partial solar eclipse on April 8. Scout your spot — then have a backupClouds can block out and ruin the experience of a total solar eclipse. Laurie Ambrose/Getty ImagesThe most important factor for great eclipse photos is something we can’t control: the weather. Consider renting equipmentYou can see the solar corona as thin white whisps jutting out from the moon's shadow in this photo of a total solar eclipse. Enjoy itThis year's total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event for some.

Persons: —, ” astrophotographer Jon Carmichael, what's, Carmichael, Andrew Studer, you’re, “ It’s, Laurie Ambrose, Getty, Jon Carmichael, Studer, PhotoPills, Doug Duncan, Jon Carmichael It’s, ” Carmichael, Manfred Gottschalk, you’ve, It’s, ” Studer, Thomson, Jon Carmichael Carmichael’s, keng cheong, Sean Gallup Organizations: Service, Business, National Geographic, BBC, Great, Hubble Space, Thomson Reuters, Getty Locations: Texas, Maine

☆ Americans are feeling the most optimistic about the mortgage market since the Fed started hiking rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Fannie Mae survey released Wednesday found that optimism around mortgage rates has hit a two-year high. "Mortgage rate optimism increased markedly again in January, with a survey-high percentage of consumers anticipating mortgage rate declines over the next year," Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's chief economist, said. The slide arrives as the Fed mulls cutting interest rates in 2024 as inflation continues to decline. A previous report showed that Fannie Mae now expects mortgage rates to dip below 6% this year, a revision of their earlier forecast. According to Fannie Mae, 82% of consumers indicated in January that they are not concerned about losing their job in the next year, up from 75% last month.

Persons: —, Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's, Freddie Mac, it's, Duncan, Fannie Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Business Locations: Fannie Mae's

☆ Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, sets the stage for cuts. What that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Greg McBride chief financial analyst at Bankrate"Below the surface, 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck," McBride said. Now, with rate cuts on the horizon, consumers will see some of their borrowing costs come down as well, although deposit rates will also follow suit. From credit cards and mortgage rates to auto loans and savings accounts, here's a look at where those rates could go in the year ahead. Going forward, annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates but even then, they will only ease off extremely high levels. Mortgage ratesDue to higher mortgage rates, 2023 was the least affordable homebuying year in at least 11 years, according to a report from real estate company Redfin.

Persons: Greg McBride, McBride, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, It's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds Organizations: Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

So far this month, mortgage rates have been holding relatively steady after dropping down to an average of 6.43% in December, according to Zillow data. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage Refinance Rates TodayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. This is good news for mortgage rates — as inflation slows and the Federal Reserve is able to start cutting the federal funds rate, mortgage rates are expected to trend down as well. Fannie Mae researchers expect prices to increase 3.2% in 2024, while the Mortgage Bankers Association expects a 4.1% increase in 2024.

Persons: homebuyers, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Organizations: Strategic Research, Zillow, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, ARM Locations: Chevron

☆ What it will take to make homes affordable again for millions of Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

"At the current 8% mortgage rate, mortgage payment[s] are 38% of median income," Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi said. The National Association of Realtors measures affordability through its 34-year old Housing Affordability Index, or HAI. And even if home prices do the decline, that trend won't be sustainable unless America builds millions of more homes. And spreads will likely remain extra-wide until short-term interest rates drop below the rates on longer-term treasuries, Duncan said. "Mortgage rates will not go back to 3% – we'll be lucky if we get back to 5," Yun said.

Persons: —, John Burns, maven Mohamed El, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Mark Zandi, That's, Doug Duncan, Fannie, Duncan, Daryl Fairweather, They've, Fairweather, they've, Freddie Mac, –, Zandi, it's Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, National Association of Realtors, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, NAR, Redfin, Allianz, America, Federal Reserve, realtors, Builders, Fed Locations: Florida, Austin , Texas, Boise , Idaho, Fannie Mae, America, New York, California, Phoenix, Tampa, Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago

Mortgage rates are likely to stay at frightening levels even after the Halloween season is over. But we may finally see 30-year mortgage rates dip back below 7% next year, Fannie Mae says. "With ongoing affordability constraints and rising mortgage rates, much of that activity has essentially been given back. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates were 6.89% last week, according to Freddie Mac data.

Persons: Fannie Mae, they've, Fannie Mae's, Doug Duncan, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Zillow Locations: Chevron

☆ Over 80% of Americans think it's a bad time to buy a house
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Americans don't feel good about the prospect of buying a house right now. 82% think it's a "bad time to buy" a new home, according to a Fannie Mae survey. Affordability has plunged due to soaring mortgage rates and low inventory levels. And just 64% of the people surveyed by Fannie Mae believe it's a good time to sell a house. "Unsurprisingly, consumers continue to attribute the challenging conditions to high home prices and unfavorable mortgage rates," he added.

Persons: Fannie Mae, Fannie, Black Knight, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae's, Doug Duncan Organizations: Service, Housing Survey, Federal Locations: Wall, Silicon, Fannie Mae's, Black

☆ U.S. consumers saying 'bad time to buy' a house hits 13-year high in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Safiyah Riddle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A newly constructed home available for sale is pictured in a new housing development area in Vista, California March 20, 2012. Consumers' outlook also appears to have taken a hit, with a net 17% of respondents expecting price increases in the next 12 months, the highest percentage in over a year. Persistently high home-buying costs are in large part due to limited housing stock, which has remained at historically low levels. Many homeowners are now unwilling to buy a new home that would require more expensive financing compared to mortgage costs locked in before the Fed started raising rates. Reporting by Safiyah Riddle; Editing by Conor HumphriesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan, Safiyah Riddle, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Fed, Thomson Locations: Vista , California, U.S

Average 30-year mortgage rates are now just a few basis points above last month's average. But according to the latest Fannie Mae housing forecast, borrowers shouldn't expect mortgage rates to drop dramatically this year. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.96%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.30%, up a bit from the prior week, according to Freddie Mac data.

Persons: Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan, Fannie, you'll, Freddie Mac Organizations: Mortgage, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

Mortgage rates rose dramatically last year in response to high inflation and aggressive rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. This means that more Fed hikes are likely, which will keep mortgage rates elevated for at least the next couple of months. But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control. Sky high mortgage rates have pushed many hopeful buyers out of the market, slowing homebuying demand and putting downward pressure on home prices. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: they're, Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan, you'll Organizations: Federal Reserve, of Labor Statistics, Federal, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

Mortgage rates have dropped somewhat this month and are now holding relatively steady, with 30-year mortgage rates generally hovering in the 6.3% to 6.5% range. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThis week's average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.67%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.03% this week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates increased dramatically in 2022 and have been volatile so far in 2023, but they're expected to trend down later this year.

Persons: Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, you'll, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal Reserve, Boomers, Zillow Locations: Chevron

☆ US housing market stabilizing as single-family homebuilding, permits surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Summary Single-family housing starts increase 2.7% in MarchSingle-family building permits jump 4.1%Overall housing starts fall 0.8%; permits drop 8.8%WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - U.S. single-family homebuilding increased for a second straight month in March, while permits for future construction surged, offering some glimmers of hope for the depressed housing market ahead of the busy spring selling season. The improvement in the single-family housing market segment, which was reported by the Commerce Department on Tuesday, likely reflected buyers taking advantage of a retreat in mortgage rates. A survey on Monday showed falling mortgage rates and tight supply of previously owned houses were supporting the new home market. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, rose 2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 861,000 units last month. Single-family housing starts dropped 27.7% on a year-on-year basis in March.

☆ Housing market sentiment is nearing all-time lows as Americans fret over mortgage rates and employment outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US housing-market sentiment is edging back to an all-time-low, according to Fannie Mae. That's because Americans are worried over rising mortgage rates and the unemployment outlook. Markets are expecting more interest rate hikes from the Fed, which could help keep mortgage rates elevated. That's partly because of the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes to control inflation, which have influenced mortgage rates to hover around twenty-year high. Markets are now expecting even steeper rate hikes from the Fed after Chairman Jerome Powell's hawkish testimony to lawmakers this week, with expectations for a 50 basis-point increase in March rising after his remarks.

☆ Affordability constraints continue to deter first-time home buyers, says Fannie Mae's Doug Duncan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAffordability constraints continue to deter first-time home buyers, says Fannie Mae's Doug DuncanCNBC's Diana Olick and Fannie Mae's Chief Economist Doug Duncan join 'Power Lunch' to discuss the potential for a housing comeback, housing sector recession forecasts, and homebuilder stocks rallying this week.

☆ Home prices and mortgages will stay high this year, but housing activity is set to cool further amid mild recession, Fannie Mae says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

High mortgage rates and home prices will persist, but activity will slump amid a mild recession, Fannie Mae said. Mortgage rates have been influenced by the Fed's rate hikes, and rates could remain high this year. A 2008-style crash is unlikely, the mortgage giant said, predicting a steady decline in home prices over the next few years. Mortgage rates have eased slightly in recent weeks as the Fed dials back the size of its rate hikes, which have lowered interest rate volatility. In either case, we expect 2023 to be a slow year for the housing market," Fannie Mae's chief economist Doug Duncan said in a note on Friday.

☆ Consumer confidence in housing finally rises, thanks to falling home prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Mortgage rates are still twice what they were a year ago, but home prices have been falling since June, and that's finally making consumers feel better about what had been an overheated, highly competitive housing market. A monthly housing sentiment index from Fannie Mae showed sentiment improving from November to December. The share saying now is a bad time decreased. The share of respondents saying now is a good time to sell dropped to 51% from 54%, while the share saying now is a bad time to sell increased. More consumers now believe home prices will fall in the next 12 months, and more also said they believe mortgage rates will come down.

☆ After this week’s Fed rate hike, where are mortgage rates headed?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mortgage rates have run up so far and so fast this year that many would-be homebuyers can no longer afford to buy a home. By fall, mortgage rates had more than doubled, eventually topping 7% in October. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. “We have to remember mortgage rates come down much slower than they go up,” said Cohn. “Volatility increases the level of mortgage rates, compared to Treasury rates, because of the prepayment option,” said Chester Spatt, professor of finance at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.

☆ A luxury-furniture CEO warns that 'the housing market is collapsing at a level I haven't seen since 2008'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

RH CEO Gary Friedman told investors on an earnings call this week that the housing market is collapsing. He previously told investors that "anyone who doesn't think we're in a recession is crazy'"Other real estate experts think the market data isn't a perfect indicator of future performance. He points to low homebuyer demand and the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes to tame inflation for the market decline. "The housing market has collapsed, and it's gone down pretty viciously as interest rates went up," Friedman said during the call. Meanwhile, Friedman estimated that the luxury housing market, which is RH's primary market, could see a 35% to 40% decline in activity in Q4 because of high interest rates.

☆ Home prices are falling at the fastest rate in 15 years. 7 real estate analysts and economists break down how bad they think it's going to get.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

As demand fades in the housing market, price cuts have become widespread. However, despite more sellers cutting asking prices, home prices have still increased by 10.6% year-over-year. On an annual basis, Fannie Mae says house price growth will turn negative beginning in the second-quarter of 2023. According to Freddie Mac's Sam Khater, house price growth will average 6.7% in 2022 and then decline by 0.2% in 2023. With inventory levels at all-time lows, he believes supply and demand dynamics will give way to significant price declines nationwide.

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowCurrent refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-year fixed mortgage ratesThe current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.61%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-year fixed mortgage ratesThe average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 5.98%, a 40-basis-point drop from the prior week, according to Freddie Mac data. But average 30-year fixed rates will likely remain somewhere in the 5% to 6% range throughout 2023.

☆ Consumer confidence in the housing market hits a new low, according to Fannie Mae
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rising mortgage rates, high home prices and uncertainty in the overall economy have Americans feeling more pessimistic about the state of the housing market. In October, just 16% of consumers said they thought now is a good time to buy a home, according to a monthly survey by Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae's survey looks not just at buying and selling but tests sentiment about home prices, mortgage rates and the job market. More also believe mortgage rates will rise. By June it crossed 6%, and it's now just over 7%, according to Mortgage News Daily.

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-year fixed mortgage ratesThe current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.94%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-year fixed mortgage ratesThe average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.23%, an increase from the prior week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021 and have increased significantly so far in 2022. Inflation remains elevated, but has started to slow, which is a good sign for mortgage rates and the broader economy.

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 30-year fixed mortgage ratesThe current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.92%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-year fixed mortgage ratesThe average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.09%, an increase from the prior week, according to Freddie Mac data. Adjustable rate mortgages can look very attractive to borrowers when rates are high, because the rates on these mortgages are typically lower than fixed mortgage rates. Historically, adjustable mortgage rates tend to be lower than 30-year fixed rates.

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