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☆ Weekly mortgage refinance demand rose 5% after a slight dip in mortgage rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates are significantly higher than they were at the start of this year, but they pulled back slightly last week after several weeks of straight increases. "First-time homebuyers account for roughly half of purchase loans, and the government lending programs are an important source of financing for these homebuyers. The dip in rates caused refinance demand to increase 5% for the week, although it was still 6% lower than the year-earlier week. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home rose 2% for the week but were still 17% lower than the same week a year earlier. Mortgage rates fell further to start this week.

Persons: Mike Fratantoni, MBA's, Fratantoni Organizations: Federal Reserve's, Federal Housing Administration Locations: Manhattan, New York City

First-time homebuyer no down payment programsIt's possible to get a mortgage with no down payment. VA mortgage borrowers enjoy the ability to put no money down and interest rates that are typically lower than conventional mortgage rates. Other low down payment mortgage optionsIf you don't qualify for VA or USDA no down payment home loans, there are other strategies you can use to reduce the down payment you're required to pay. Preparing for the application processTo ensure you qualify for a no down payment mortgage, work on getting your credit score in a good place. Forgoing a down payment may mean paying a higher interest rate and higher monthly payment on your mortgage.

Persons: you'll, Here's who's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Organizations: US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, Federal Housing Finance Agency, USDA, Chevron Locations: homebuyers

☆ Mortgage rates drop after climbing for four weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —Mortgage rates ticked down slightly this week, a tiny boon to buyers eager to make a move with newly listed homes coming to market. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.88% in the week ending March 7, down from 6.94% the previous week, according to data from Freddie Mac released Thursday. While mortgage rates are expected to fall further in 2024, Sturtevant added, short-term movements in mortgage rates will likely be influenced by congressional testimony given this week by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. During his semiannual monetary report to Congress, he indicated there is no rush to cut interest rates with more evidence of cooling inflation. The February jobs report, which will be released Friday, is also likely to have some bearing on mortgage rates.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, homebuyers, Khater, Redfin, Lisa Sturtevant, ” Sturtevant, Sturtevant, Jerome Powell Organizations: DC CNN —, Mortgage, Association, Federal Housing Administration, Redfin, MLS, Bright MLS, Federal, Congress Locations: Washington

FHA loan borrowers struggling to keep up with their mortgage may soon be able to reduce their payments by as much as 25%. The FHA launched the Payment Supplement option in response to high mortgage rates. Lenders can offer the Payment Supplement starting May 1, and they have to start offering it by January 1, 2025. FHA loan borrowers who are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments will soon have a new option to help them avoid losing their homes to foreclosure. Called the Payment Supplement, this new option can temporarily lower a borrower's monthly payment so they can get back on their feet after a financial hardship.

Persons: —, forbearance, Charles Williams, Percy, you'll, Julia Gordon Organizations: FHA, Service, Finance, Federal, Administration

☆ An affordability crisis is making some young Americans give up on ever owning a home
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington, DC CNN —Americans are living through the toughest housing market in a generation and, for some young people, the quintessential dream of owning a home is slipping away. Mortgage rates surged in recent years, hitting the highest levels in more than two decades last fall. CNN spoke with some young Americans about their thoughts on the current state of the US housing market and their plans for the future. “The housing market is not a single person’s market.”What typically happens when a regional housing market becomes too unaffordable is that people without the means simply move somewhere cheaper, such as a suburb an hour away, for example. Still, affordability takes into account mortgage rates, family incomes and single-family home prices, which remain a vexing pain point.

Persons: It’s, Baby, Brandie Grant, Grant, ”, “, ” Brandie Grant, Brandie, Ross, Emily Bunton, Ross Bunton, That’s, ” Bunton, I’m, Corey Griffis, ’, hasn’t, ” Griffis, Shyahm Aguilar, Shyahm Aguilar Shyahm Aguilar, Aguilar, we’ve, ” Aguilar, that’s, there’s, Fannie Mae’s, ” Mark Palim, Fannie Mae, Mario Tama, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s, Sofiya Vyshnevska, Vyshnevska, “ Young Organizations: DC CNN, Baby Boomers, CNN, San Francisco Bay Area, National Association of Realtors, Housing Administration, Montana State University, Federal, Housing Survey, “, NAR Locations: Washington, San Francisco Bay, United States, St, Louis , Missouri, Portland , Oregon, Mexico, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Santa Fe, Merida, Colorado, Phoenix, Queen Creek , Arizona, Minneapolis, Houston, Dallas, Austin , Texas, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Florida, Atlanta

But borrowing money always comes with some risks, and home renovation loans can be particularly risky when used to purchase a fixer upper. Renovation loan eligibilityTo get a loan for a house renovation, you'll need to meet certain credit requirements. Cash-out refinances or renovation loans rolled into mortgages are typically the best renovation loan programs because they come with the lowest rates. Home renovation loans FAQsAre renovation loans a good idea? Renovation loans, or home improvement loans, can be a good idea for homeowners looking to make both essential and cosmetic changes to their homes.

Persons: —, It's, Fannie Mae's, Freddie Mac's, you'll, Douglas Boneparth Organizations: Service, Federal Housing Administration, Bone, reno, Chevron

☆ Financing a tiny home just got easier. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A change in housing finance policy will make it easier for people to build ADUs. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt just got easier for many homeowners to build a tiny home on their property. Ryan O'Connell and Jakota Rivas, a California ADU grant recipient, in front of her ADU in California. Cities across the country — in red and blue states alike — have passed legislation that makes it easier to build. Laws like this, and a similar congressional bill, will help middle class homeowners build an ADU with more financial ease.

Persons: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, It's, —, Fannie, Freddie, Ryan O'Connell, O'Connell, Jakota Rivas, Eric Santucci, he's, Bill Organizations: Service, Administration, FHA Locations: California, Los Angeles, . California , Vermont, New York

☆ 5 tips on how to buy property in a high-interest-rate environment from 5 real-estate investors who started with little or no money down
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a whopping 7.43% on Monday, a level unseen in the US in almost two decades. That same setup would cost $2,222 a month with today's mortgage rate. Regardless of which direction the pendulum swings, investors can still navigate their way through the housing market with a few tips. If a buyer were to purchase it today, with a 20% down payment, monthly mortgage costs would be $3,350, according to Insider's mortgage calculator. He then secured the remainder of $910,000 from a bank at an interest rate of 6.5%.

Persons: Sam Primm, Lucas Walls, Primm, there's, Sharon Tseung, Tseung, Chris Gerbig, couldn't, Gerbig, he's, Matthew Tortoriello, Tortoriello, Ana Snider Organizations: Primm, San Francisco Bay Area, MLS, Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Agriculture Locations: Primm, San Francisco Bay, Jacksonville , Florida, Lemoore , California

☆ Timeline of Racial Wealth Gap
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Policies and practices that have disadvantaged Black Americans generation after generation help explain the racial wealth gap. Black veterans find it much harder to obtain benefits; one study finds Black claimants were twice as likely to have their applications queried. 1877Southern states begin enacting “Jim Crow” laws, which formalize racial segregation. The laws restrict civil liberties and limit job opportunities for Black people as employers relegate Black workers to lower-skilled roles. 1896The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Plessy v Ferguson that racial segregation is permissible.

Persons: Black, vagrancy, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, Andrew Johnson, Jim Crow, Ferguson, Henry Ford, Woodrow Wilson, Smith, Bankhead Organizations: Civil, Union, Bureau, American Medical Association, Prudential, Companies, Black, American Federation of Labor, U.S, Supreme, Plessy, U.S . Department of Agriculture, U.S . Constitution, National Association of Real, Owners Loan Corporation, U.S . Commission, Housing Administration, Federal Housing Administration Locations: U.S, Southern, Black, Louisville , Kentucky, U.S ., Tulsa , Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Chicago, Levittown, New York’s

☆ Craft beer, marriages and air travel: The collateral damage of a government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Staff, meanwhile, have been forced to put their real jobs on hold to prepare for the looming shutdown. National parksThe National Park Service plans to close its parks and furlough park rangers if the government shuts down on Sunday. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the parks themselves remained accessible, but without most services. Some presidential libraries would remain open as long as they have sufficient funds, but others would close and research services would be reduced. A shutdown would result in a "data blackout" of critical economic statistics that influence markets and businesses around the globe.

Persons: Donald Trump, that's, Biden, Joshua, Armando L, Sanchez, Pete Buttigieg, they're, White, Treasury Department furloughed, shutdowns Organizations: Yosemite, Fresno Bee, Tribune, Service, Getty, White House Council, Economic Advisers, Management, Staff, National Park Service, Park Service, Department of Interior, NBC, Congressional Research Service, National Zoo, U.S . Holocaust, Museum, National, Science, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, FBI Agents Association, FBI, Air, Transportation Security, LaGuardia, TSA, O'Hare International, State Department, Consular, Education Department, AmeriCorps, Agriculture Department, Assistance, Women, Small Business Administration, Federal Housing Administration, Social, Consumer, Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Labor, —, Social Security, Medicare, Treasury Department, Foreign Assets Control, Russia Locations: El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Washington, Civil, U.S, Europe, Southeast Asia, New Mexico, shutdowns, New York, Chicago, Russia, Iran, Ukraine

☆ An ex-mortgage underwriter who owns 129 rental units worth over $28 million shares 3 ways to buy property with little or no money down. — Plus 3 calculations he uses to find a cash-flowing property.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

To date, he has amassed 28 single- and multi-family homes that were worth over $28 million at their time of purchase. This is when the seller provides the loan, allowing the buyer to skip the bank and instead give the monthly payment with interest to the seller. In this instance, the lender will provide the down payment in exchange for either equity in the deal or monthly payments over time. If he has an $8,000 return, he must deduct $5,000 on mortgage payments. He determines this by dividing the total monthly operating costs, including utilities, maintenance, property taxes, home insurance, and property management fees (not including mortgage payments) by the total monthly income.

Persons: Chris Gerbig, Tori Gerbig, Pink Lily, Chris, Chris didn't, he's, you'll, they've Organizations: eBay, Bank of America, Housing Administration, National Association of Realtors, Loan Locations: Wells Fargo, Kentucky

☆ Affordable Housing Crisis in US West: Why It's Hard to Build New Homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Kyle Paoletta | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The solution to keep prices under control seems fairly simple: Just build more housing. For a time, sprawl boosted housing supply and accommodated newcomers to the West: Nearly 60 million more people live in the region now compared with the 1950s. Running out of landWhen the economy crashed in 2008, housing construction screeched to a halt. All this red tape has caused a serious slowdown in much-needed housing construction. Build, build, buildDespite the unique challenges of building in the paradoxically wide-open West, some cities have been able to break through.

Persons: Mike Segrest, Megan Lawson, Kyle Stevens, Carrier Johnson, “, Lawson, Land Management . Nevada Sen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Kyle Roerink, Hillary Schieve, Schieve, Howard Blackson, Kyle Paoletta's Organizations: Forest Service, Southern Ute, Marin Headlands, Bureau, Land Management ., Water Network, Biggest, Biggest Little City, Housing Administration, Harper's Magazine, New York Magazine, Oasis Locations: Colorado, Durango ., it's, Animas, San Juan Mountains, Durango, Las Vegas, Montana, Houston, Minneapolis, Rocky, Phoenix, Denver, Mississippi, San Diego, San Jose , California, Marin County, San Francisco, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Jackson , Wyoming, California, Land Management . Nevada, Vegas, Reno , Nevada, Reno, Cumulatively, Biggest Little, Summit, Washington

☆ Most first-time homebuyers don't put down 20%, expert says. Here's how much you may need
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But you probably don't need as much money as you think. In the following decades, many government-backed mortgages mandated a 20% down payment. The typical house in the U.S. has a median price of around $400,000. Applying the 20% rule would mean you'd need $80,000. Some states, cities and other groups have programs that award grants to homebuyers that bolster their down payment or help cover closing costs.

Persons: SurveyMonkey, Jessica Lautz, Lautz, Freddie Mac, Daniel Brennan Organizations: Istock, CNBC, National Association of Realtors, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Bank Locations: U.S, Arizona, Maine

☆ Home sales fall again in July, as supply drops to near quarter-century low
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Homes sold at the slowest July pace since 2010. This count is for closings, so contracts were likely signed in May and June, when mortgage rates went from around 6.5% to well over 7%. Sales fell month to month in all regions except the West, where they rose 2.7%. Roughly three-quarters of the homes sold were on the market for less than a month, indicating still strong demand. "The housing market is at a pivotal point as we head into fall," said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, noting higher mortgage rates in particular.

Persons: it's, Lawrence Yun, Danielle Hale, Buyers, Lisa Sturtevant Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Homes, Realtor.com, Realtors, Federal Housing Administration, Bright MLS

☆ The Golden Girls approach: Buying homes together amid high prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Combined, those two factors can make it very challenging to break into the housing market. Currently, it represents about 3% of the housing market, although that rises to 5% among first-time buyers, according to NAR. Imagining a 20% down payment, for instance, may cause potential buyers to throw up their hands in despair. So there is wiggle room, and you might be more equipped to buy on your own than you think.”Nonetheless, the harsh realities of the housing market may dictate more co-buying in future. With high prices and high interest rates, some potential buyers may not have much of a choice – and this relative rarity in the real estate world may soon become more common.

Persons: Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, Sophia, “, I’m, ”, Jacob Channel, Gus Gibbs, Gibbs, Jessica Lautz, Howard Pressman, Lauren Young, Aurora Ellis Organizations: LendingTree, National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve, NAR, “, Housing Administration, Thomson Locations: Boise , Idaho, Vienna , Virginia

☆ Weekly mortgage demand drops again, as interest rates match a 22-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates rose for the third straight week last week, matching a 22-year high. As a result, mortgage demand dropped as well. Total mortgage application volume was 29% lower than the same week one year ago, according to the Mortgage Banker's Association's seasonally adjusted index. That was the third straight weekly increase and the highest level since October 2022, which also matches a high level seen in 2001. As a result, mortgage demand from homebuyers was essentially flat week to week and 26% lower than the same week one year ago.

Persons: Joel Kan Organizations: Federal Housing Administration, Mortgage News

☆ TikTok influencers want to rent you a very cool home. Just don't call them landlords.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

While live-in landlords are far from a novel concept, the pandemic-era fever around passive income and real-estate investing has sparked a rise in the popularity of house hacking. While Turner's initial strategy emphasized small multifamily buildings, some house hackers applied the concept to single-family homes. In 2019, he published a book called "The House Hacking Strategy: How to Use Your Home to Achieve Financial Freedom." And I think house hacking is one obvious way to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, what likely is your largest expense." "Yeah, it's called 'house hacking," the owner and roommate, also played by Jarman, who has 4 million followers, replies.

Persons: Kelly Clark, Clark, scoffed, TikTok, Zers, Brandon Turner, Turner, Ryan Lehman, Lehman, Brandon, I'm, Craig Curelop, BiggerPockets who's, Curelop, influencer Addison Jarman, renter, it's, Jarman, Jay Parsons, John Liang, TikToker, Liang, —, It's, doesn't, Insider's Daniel Geiger, she'd, James Rodriguez Organizations: Federal Housing Administration, BiggerPockets, Census, YouTube, RealPage Locations: Spokane , Washington, Silicon, millennials, Seattle, Spokane

☆ Custom art, air purifiers and TikTok: College spending boom could booster retailers' sales this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Eros Hoagland | Getty ImagesOver the past few years, Alicia Browne has noticed a change in what college students haul out of cars on move-in days at the University of Alabama. A growing pie — and market share up for grabsAs college spending is poised to grow, retailers have another reason to vie for students' dollars. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesIt is difficult to estimate how much college market share Bed Bath had in total. Shipt, the Target-owned delivery service, and Walmart have both tried to attract more college students to their membership programs by offering a special discounted price. She said the company's growth has been fueled by college students who want uniquely decorated rooms that reflect their personalities.

Persons: Eros Hoagland, Alicia Browne, Keurig coffeemakers, decorators, Browne, Prosper, Browne chalks, " Browne, Marshal Cohen, Jakub Porzycki, Harmon, Cristina Fernandez, Sonoma, TikTok, Dormify, Amanda Zuckerman, Zuckerman, Kate Reppeto, Callie Weathers Kate Reppeto, Repetto, she's, Anna Emblom Organizations: University of North, Hill, University of Alabama, College, National Retail Federation, IRI, NPD, Target, Walmart, Consulting, Deloitte, Nurphoto, Goods, Ikea, Telsey Advisory, Williams, Hamptons, Madison, University of Mississippi, Eagle Locations: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, Kohl's, Bath, Bed, Williston , Vermont, New York City, Madison Ave, Oxford, Miss, Southlake, Dallas, Fort Worth in Texas, Birmingham, Ala

☆ US mortgage delinquency rates fall to all-time low
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Safiyah Riddle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage delinquency rates fell to a record low in the second quarter due to a strong job market and low interest rates prevailing on most home loans despite the big jump in mortgage rates over the last two years, a report on Thursday said. Delinquency rates fell to 3.37% at the end of the second quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey, their lowest since the MBA began collecting data in 1979 and down from 3.64% year-on-year. Economists are watching mortgage delinquency rates closely for signs of weakness amidst the Federal Reserve's aggressive 525 basis point interest rate increase since March 2022, which increased the cost of borrowing across the board. Despite the historically low delinquency rate, the MBA said not every borrower has been able to withstand the recent stress of hiked interest rates. “Home sales were down due to higher mortgage rates and limited inventory,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, ”, Lawrence Yun, Safiyah Riddle, Dan Burns, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Mortgage, National Delinquency Survey, Federal Housing Administration, National Association of Realtors, “, Thomson Locations: York County , South Carolina, U.S

☆ Mortgage demand drops again after FHA loan interest rate hits 21-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage interest rates soared across the board last week, with the rate on the government's low down payment option increasing to the highest level in 21 years. That hit mortgage demand hard, with total application volume dropping 3.1% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. The average rate for jumbo loans hit 7.04%. High mortgage rates are not only making it harder to afford a home, they're keeping current homeowners in place. Mortgage rates have held over 7% to start this week, according to a separate survey from Mortgage News Daily.

Persons: Joel Kan Organizations: Mortgage, Federal Housing Administration, Treasury, Mortgage News Locations: Parkland , Florida

☆ Qualifying for a mortgage is getting harder, as credit availability is the tightest in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A decline in the Mortgage Credit Availability Index indicates that lending standards are tightening, while increases in the index would indicate loosening credit. Mortgage credit availability has been tightening since the spring, according to MBA, with a slight uptick in availability in June, when levels were essentially unchanged. Credit availability then fell again in July, to a decade low. In July, the conventional loan index, which examines non-government loan programs, decreased 0.5%. The government loan index, which examines Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs and US Department of Agriculture loan programs, was down by 0.1%.

Persons: Joel Kan, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Kan, ” Kan Organizations: DC CNN, Mortgage Bankers Association, ICE Mortgage Technology, Mortgage, Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of Agriculture Locations: Washington

☆ 'The most important financial decision' of your life—what you need to know about mortgages
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

News about mortgage rates comes out daily. But for most would-be homebuyers, up-to-the-minute financial information might not feel as important as the bigger-picture questions: How do mortgages work? "Borrowing to purchase property is probably the most important financial decision that most people are ever going to make in their life," she says. The average 30-year mortgage rate was above 10% for most of the 80s, cresting in 1981 at 18.39%. "One can never truly predict the future, but I don't see mortgage rates returning back to the 3% range in the remainder of my lifetime," he says.

Persons: Will, Mary O'Sullivan, Read, Jeff Ostrowski, Z homebuyers, Lawrence Yun, that's, Freddie Mac, you've, O'Sullivan Organizations: Nationwide Mortgage Brokers, Federal Reserve, Fed, cresting, National Association of Realtors, CNBC, PMI, Federal Housing Administration, Financial, Urban Institute

☆ Mortgage demand drops as interest rates remain stubbornly high
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates didn't move at all last week, and are still sitting near a recent high. Most borrowers today carry interest rates far lower than the current rate and would therefore not benefit from a refinance. Mortgage rates moved higher to start this week, crossing over 7% Tuesday to 7.04%, according to Mortgage News Daily. Rates will likely move later today, following the latest interest rate decision and press conference at the Federal Reserve. In other words, mortgage rates CAN move lower tomorrow even if the Fed hikes.

Persons: Joel Kan, Jerome, Powell, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Federal Housing Administration, Mortgage News, Federal Reserve

☆ Shopping for a home? There’s a lot working against you right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In recent weeks, as mortgage rates closed in on 7%, affordability has worsened. Nationally, it takes about 36% of the median household income to make the average mortgage payment — more than the recommended 30% allowance for housing. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index fell by 3.1% to 96.5 in May, the lowest level since January 2013, and was essentially unchanged in June. The MBA index that tracks jumbo loans — loans that are larger than conforming loan limits — saw its second monthly contraction, as some financial institutions reduce their appetite for larger loans that aren’t backed by the government. Mortgage rates are expected to drop the second half of this year as inflation continues to cool, with economists and housing analysts forecasting rates to end the year around 6%.

Persons: Nick Gaylord, “ I’ve, ” Gaylord, it’s, “ I’m, ”, Gaylord, “, Black Knight, Knight, ” Joel Kan, Department of Veterans Affairs —, — Organizations: DC CNN, CNN, Mortgage Bankers Association, ICE Mortgage Technology, Federal Housing Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington, Minneapolis

☆ Weekly mortgage demand was flat, even as interest rates drop for the third straight week
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The average rate on the most popular mortgage, the 30-year fixed, fell for the third straight week, but demand for mortgages didn't move much. Total mortgage application volume increased 0.5% last week, compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. This marks the second straight week that jumbo loans have a higher rate than conforming loans. Homebuyers are starting to get used to higher interest rates, but the continued drop in new listings of homes for sale is keeping sales low. Federal Housing Administration demand rose more than conventional loan demand.

Persons: Joel Kan, Jerome Powell Organizations: Mortgage, Federal Housing Administration, Census, Federal, Financial Services

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