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☆ 2 real estate experts break down the implications of institutional investors and crowdfunding platforms entering the crowded housing market, and what it means for potential homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Institutional investors have been under fire lately for eating up real estate market share. "Investors gone wild"According to independent real estate market analyst John Wake, the pandemic-induced era of easy money brewed the perfect storm for a land grab in the housing market. He believes that the most important trend in today's housing market is the sheer amount of capital chasing new homes. The influx of these institutional investors has only exacerbated the massive supply-demand imbalance the real estate market currently faces, Wake said. So the idea was to provide an alternative source of funding to encourage public investments in real estate," he explained.

☆ Want to buy a house, but spooked by 7% rates? A mortgage broker lays out 4 things to do to make it happen.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Top mortgage broker Erica Davis gave 4 tips for people hoping to buy despite the high rates. But there's hope for those that want to forge ahead and buy a house anyway, Erica Davis, a mortgage broker at Guild Mortgage, a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based firm, told Insider. Not only are rates high, but closing costs are high, too. For a $300,000 mortgage, closing costs will likely be between $6,000 and $15,000. A credit score of 620 — which is in the "fair" range — or higher can generally allow buyers to secure a mortgage, according to Quicken Loans, a mortgage-loan provider.

☆ 26 million borrowers have applied for student loan forgiveness. But GOP challenges put plan at risk
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

SKLA | iStock | Getty ImagesClose to 26 million Americans have applied for student loan forgiveness, and the Biden administration has already approved 16 million of the requests, the White House said Thursday. Yet its entire loan cancellation plan could be in jeopardy due to the legal challenges brought by Republicans, it warned. "If Republican officials get their way, tens of millions of Americans' monthly costs will rise dramatically when student loan payments resume next year," according to a statement by the administration. Most recently, a legal challenge from six GOP-led states temporarily stopped the administration from starting to forgive borrowers' debt. Tribe agreed, and said the other challengers also were on shaky legal standing.

☆ First-time homebuyers are being shut out of the market like never before
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

First-time buyers made up just 26% of all homebuyers in the year ending June 2022, down from 34% the year before, according to NAR’s 2022 report on homebuyers and sellers. The median household income for first-time buyers slipped to $71,000 during the year ended in June, down from $86,500 in the previous 12-month period. “For first-time homebuyers, the lack of affordability is playing a key role in holding them back from homeownership,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “With the rise of rents and how that is hitting first-time homebuyers, it impacts Black buyers more than it would any other group,” said Lautz. Lautz said the research showed buyers faced hard decisions to close the deal on a home they could afford.

Welcome to Personal Finance Insider, a biweekly newsletter that connects you with the stories, strategies, and tips you need to be better with money. Ditto her regular savings account. It's a good investment, to be sure, but it's not exactly fulfilling my urges as a Personal Finance Person®. Instead of giving physical birthday and Christmas gifts, Cappolla's uncle had been putting small sums — $25 to $100 — into a savings account. If you've never read an issue of Personal Finance Insider's For Love & Money column, last week's is a good place to start.

☆ All anyone cares about is the economy ahead of the midterm elections — and it's the worst possible timing for Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Right now inflation is high, rent is high, and gas prices are high — and people aren't happy. It's the worst timing for Democrats, who have struggled to convince voters that relief is coming. "Fast-forward to today, Republicans have been steadfast and committed to campaigning on the economy, inflation, and crime, over and over." The economy still feels like it sucks, and that's the worst possible timing during a crucial turning point for Democrats. "If Democrats tomorrow were to come out with a clear message on the economy and inflation, it would make a difference," he said.

How Consumers Credit Union auto loans compareHow Consumers Credit Union compares Consumers Credit Union Auto LoanPenFed Auto LoanNavy Federal Credit Union Auto Loans Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Borrowers who pay a one-time $5 membership fee to the Consumers Cooperative Association qualify for membership with Consumers Credit Union. If you make reliable, on-time payments, you may improve your credit score with an auto loan from a credit union. Consumers Credit Union will report your payments (or lack thereof) to the three major credit bureaus. Consumers Credit Union doesn't have a minimum credit score required for its auto loans.

In 2020 and 2021, mortgage interest rates fell to record lows. This year, with rent prices skyrocketing and mortgage interest rates hovering around 7%, people wonder if I regret my decision. Here are the five reasons I'm glad I didn't buy a home during the pandemic when interest rates were low. Mortgage interest rates will drop againOne argument friends tried to use, when convincing me to buy a house, was that mortgage interest rates were so low and they might never be this low again. However, mortgage interest rates are always fluctuating.

☆ Despite the odds, the Great Resignation lives on
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Madison Hoff | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

According to Pollak, "the overall trend is back towards less turnover in the labor market, higher retention numbers." At the industry-level, the quit rate in construction slipped to 2.0% after two consecutive months at 2.7%. The quit rate for professional and business services, for instance, increased slightly by 0.2 percentage points to 3.2%. There were 10.7 million job openings in September according to Tuesday's release. But while a lot of job openings might seem like a good thing for the economy, it could spell danger ahead.

☆ A housing crisis is upon us — but a church group in Virginia is taking a big swing at homelessness by pairing up roommates, subsidizing their rent, and offering counseling
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A small church organization in Virginia is helping unhoused people get back into permanent homes. In addition to losing access to stable housing, Walker says, people lose access to their communities. "Homelessness can be life changing, it can be a matter of life and death," Walker told Insider. His monthly disability payment — under $800 — is less than the median Virginia Beach rent of more than $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Research shows that providing housing subsidies, alongside case management and supportive services, can help people experiencing chronic homelessness achieve long-term housing stability.

☆ Many Americans are ditching their dreams of owning a house as recession fears flare, says the CEO of one of the nation's largest homebuilders
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Not only is this a 23.2% decline from the rate a year ago — it also marks the slowest rate of sales since September 2012. So far in 2022, US housing construction has fallen in four out of nine months. It's a scenario that Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow, said will not only impact home builders, but the overall housing market. "What is surprising is that rising rates normally push out potential homebuyers, but they have also pushed out potential sellers," Divounguy told Insider. With less housing inventory being introduced to the market, home prices are likely to remain high.

☆ Premarket stocks: The Fed is killing the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This ultra-resilient economy stands in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive attempts to quell inflation by slowing growth through aggressive interest rates. Those higher rates, fueled by the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented campaign of hiking interest rates to tame soaring inflation, are beginning to choke the housing market. “The surge in mortgage rates and extremely high housing prices has led to massive pullback in first time home purchasing and has pushed investors to the side. But housing is a bellwether for the rest of the economy, and these contractions will inevitably weigh on broader US growth. Alphabet (GOOG) and Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META) fell short of earnings expectations last quarter, citing a slowing digital ad market.

The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate surpassed 7% for the first time in two decades, mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday. Meanwhile, the national median mortgage payment was $1,941 in September, up from $1,839 in August and an increase from $1,844 in July, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Homebuyer affordability took an enormous hit in September, with the 75-basis-point jump in mortgage rates leading to the typical homebuyer’s monthly payment rising $102 from August,” Edward Seiler, associate vice president of housing economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in a statement. “With mortgage rates continuing to rise, the purchasing power of borrowers is shrinking. "With 7% mortgage rates, only 15% of Black households can currently afford to buy the typical home compared to 30% of White households," Nadia Evangelou, National Association of Realtors senior economist and director of forecasting, said in a statement.

☆ Here are tips for buying a home in a cooling market, according to top-ranked financial advisors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Add in higher mortgage rates, elevated home prices and unrelenting high inflation — i.e., the current home-buying environment — and it may feel decidedly unattainable. This means having a good handle on your current financial situation. While the purchase of a house is a single transaction, affordability is largely about monthly mortgage payments. "Look at your current credit score and see if you need to make improvements," Higgins said. Look at your current credit score and see if you need to make improvements.

So in 2018, they used a home equity line of credit to buy their first rental property in cash. While the couple could've saved for a down payment for their rental property, it would've taken months, if not a few years. In choosing the location for their rental property, they looked for a turnkey home that was pretty much move-in ready for tenants. Another perk of having a solid team to take care of their rental properties is the couple rarely needs to travel for in-person visits. All in all, Marques and Shyra are happy they made the decision to purchase their first rental property with a HELOC.

☆ How much you'd pay per month for a typical home in 6 US cities where prices have fallen but mortgage rates are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insider compared the typical monthly payment on homes in six US cities where prices are falling. It's part of the housing market's cooldown. Freddie Mac indicates that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is at its highest since April 2002. But if they bought a home now, when the typical home value is $553,280, and locked in a rate of 6.94%, their monthly payment would jump to nearly $2,927. Read on to see how mortgage rates are affecting housing affordability in other parts of the country.

☆ If you're considering buying or selling a home, you might want to wait until next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The fight against inflation has led to a surge in mortgage rates. An increase in interest rates led to a run up in mortgage rates, which has slowed home sales and therefore price growth. It all comes down to the fact that the higher mortgage rates rise, the less affordable homeownership is for borrowers. Indeed, homebuying activity is slowing the higher that mortgage rates rise. According to the organization's researchers, if a recession were to materialize "mortgage rates would fall around 30 basis points from the baseline forecast level of 5.2%."

It's possible to buy a home when all or most of your income comes from disability benefits or insurance. In the eyes of a mortgage lender, disability income is basically viewed like any other income, with one exception that can work in your favor (more on that in a minute). How to qualify for a mortgage with disability incomeWhen using disability income to qualify for a mortgage, you'll go through the same process as any other borrower. The challenges of buying a house using disability benefitsIf you're only receiving short-term disability benefits, you'll likely have a harder time using that income to qualify for a mortgage. Beware of mortgage discriminationLenders can't refuse to consider disability benefits income, and they can't treat you differently because of your disability or your disability income.

☆ There are only 4 U.S. cities where the average American can afford a starter home
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With homeownership costs doubling since last year, the market for starter homes has become unaffordable for most buyers in all but four major U.S. cities, according to a recent study published by real estate site Point2. But due to homeownership costs, the starter home is becoming the "stuff of myths," according to Point2. For the purposes of Point2's analysis, starter homes are those valued in the bottom third of all homes available in a given market. To measure affordability, the study follows the common personal finance rule that a mortgage payment shouldn't exceed 30% of a homeowner's gross monthly income. Here's a closer look at the four cities where starter homes are actually affordable for those earning the area's median household income.

☆ Goodbye, bidding wars. Home sellers are losing some of the power they've enjoyed for the past 2 years.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A surge in mortgage rates have cause buyers to sit on the sidelines. Whatever affordability buyers have gained through sliding prices, they are losing in mortgage rate hikes. As Americans face mortgage rates that are nearly twice as expensive as they were in 2021, more people are putting their homeownership dreams on pause. And that means sellers are not only losing leverage — they are also losing money. "Resourceful sellers understand that the market is intertwined with rising mortgage rates," Sam Chute, a Redfin listing agent said in a housing report on the decline of bidding wars.

☆ Homebuilders aren't helping to lower home prices because they too are sitting on the sidelines waiting for inflation and mortgage rates to fall
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | Ben Winck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Like prospective homeowners, homebuilders aren't happy with the housing market, either. The housing market isn't working for most Americans. In September, residential homebuilding slowed as housing starts decreased 8.1% from August levels, according to a report from the US Census Bureau that was released on Wednesday. During the month, single-family housing starts decreased 4.7% to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 892,000. "This will be the first year since 2011 to see a decline for single-family starts," Robert Dietz, the chief economist for the National Association of Homebuilders, said.

☆ Multigenerational Hispanic households are under pressure as rates surge and homes remain costly
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mortgage rates have also surged as the Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy to curb inflationary pressures not seen in about 40 years. Roughly a quarter of Asian, Black and Hispanic Americans each lived in multigenerational households in 2021, compared to 13% of those who are white. "Latinos are more likely to live in multigenerational households," said Gary Acosta, co-founder and CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. "But being a larger multigenerational family comes with complications if you're trying to be a homeowner," he said. For the Espinoza family, the ideal home would have at least three bedrooms, a backyard and proximity to employment and schools in Santa Ana.

I made two homeowners insurance claims in five years: for my roof and for some water damage. Like car or other property insurance, when you file an insurance claim, you have to pay a deductible before the insurance pays to fix the damages. These experiences taught me some important lessons about what to keep in mind when shopping for homeowners insurance. Compare homeowners insurance quotes1. Insider's Featured Homeowner Insurance Companies Lemonade Homeowners InsuranceAllstate Homeowners InsuranceNationwide Homeowners Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

☆ U.S. factory output solid in September; builder sentiment slumps further
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The two data points out Tuesday illustrate the uneven impact the U.S. central bank's rate hikes are having so far on the economy. Manufacturing output rose 0.4% last month, keeping pace with an upwardly revised 0.4% gain in August, the Federal Reserve said on Tuesday. Overall industrial production rose 0.4%, after slipping 0.1% the prior month. The rate hikes have torpedoed activity in the housing sector, and Wednesday's data from the National Association of Home Builders reinforced that. "And given expectations for ongoing elevated interest rates due to actions by the Federal Reserve, 2023 is forecasted to see additional single-family building declines as the housing contraction continues."

☆ U.S. home builder sentiment falls for 10th straight month - NAHB
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Confidence among U.S. single-family homebuilders fell for the 10th straight month in October as soaring mortgage rates and bottlenecks for building materials made new housing less affordable for many first-time buyers. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market index dropped eight points to 38 this month. "This will be the first year since 2011 to see a decline for single-family starts," NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said in a statement. "And given expectations for ongoing elevated interest rates due to actions by the Federal Reserve, 2023 is forecasted to see additional single-family building declines as the housing contraction continues." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Dan Burns; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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