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High mortgage rates had a huge impact on the housing market last year, but we'll likely see conditions improve in 2024. Mortgage rates rose to a more than two-decade high last year, and homebuying demand all but disappeared as a result. "Mortgage rates are meaningfully lower compared to just two months ago, and more inventory is expected to appear on the market in upcoming months." 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. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates inched down to 5.76% last week, according to Freddie Mac data.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, you'll, Freddie Mac, it's, they've Organizations: Mortgage, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

☆ Home sales in 2023 were the lowest in nearly 30 years, but prices still hit a record
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington, DC CNN —The residential real estate market tumbled in 2023, as soaring interest rates steadily slowed sales activity — but home prices still hit a record high. Even with all the disruptions of the onset of the pandemic, sales in 2020 ended at about 5.5 million. The next year, sales soared to over 6 million amid the frenzied market as mortgage rates sank in 2021. As mortgage rates hit 7.79% in October 2023, the highest in 23 years, sales sank again, to about 4 million. If there had been more listings on the market in 2023, we would have had more home sales.”

Persons: Lawrence Yun, ”, Yun, Lisa Sturtevant Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, “, ”, Federal Reserve Locations: Washington, homeownership, —

The expectation of lower mortgage rates and higher demand means this year's homebuying season is shaping up to be a busy one. Though mortgage rates are expected to go down in 2024, there's no guarantee of when exactly they'll start to drop. Currently, average 30-year mortgage rates are down from their fall 2023 peak and have generally been hovering below 6.5% this month. Mortgage rates don't directly follow the Fed's benchmark rate, but investor expectations of how Fed moves could impact the broader economy can push mortgage rates up or down. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: there's, Christopher Waller, Waller, they'll, you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Brookings Institution, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.6% from 6.66% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The decline, which follows two weeks of increases, brings the average rate down to the lowest level it's been in since late May, when it was 6.57%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week, dropping the average rate to 5.76% from 5.87% last week. The decline in mortgage rates has followed a pullback in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. Still, at this point, economists generally predict the average rate on a 30-year mortgage going no lower than 6%.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Organizations: ANGELES, Treasury, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ Mortgage demand surges more than 10% as lower interest rates lure homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)Another drop in mortgage interest rates caused a run on loans last week. Mortgage rates were about half a percentage point (52 basis points higher) one year ago. Nakita Bell, who is currently renting in Detroit, said the recent drop in rates prompted her to consider buying. Lower rates are also giving some current homeowners an opportunity to save money. While the vast majority of current borrowers have rates lower than those offered today, the recent drop is still having some effect on those whose loans carry higher rates.

Persons: Homeownership, Joe Biden, ROBERTO SCHMIDT, Joel Kan, Nakita Bell, I'm Organizations: AFP, Getty, Mortgage Locations: Clarksburg , Maryland, Detroit

As the Fed is able to start lowering its benchmark rate, mortgage rates should go down further in 2024. 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. Mortgage Rates for Buying a Home30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Drop Slightly (-0.17%)The current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.18%, down 17 basis points since this time last week. 20-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Fall (-0.27%)The average 20-year fixed mortgage rate is down somewhat from last week, and is sitting at 5.69%. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Decrease (-0.27%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 5.39%, also down 27 points from last week.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Federal Reserve, Brookings Institution, Federal, Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

☆ Davos: A mountain of debt and a wave of elections. World leaders are hamstrung
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —World leaders are flocking to Davos this week to pontificate on the planet’s most pressing problems. Even in the absence of a new crisis, soaring debt servicing costs will constrain efforts to tackle climate change and care for aging populations. Mortgage rates and other borrowing costs soared as investors demanded much higher premiums for owning UK debt. Mounting debt and political brinksmanship have already taken their toll on America’s credit rating, which typically affects borrowing costs for the government, businesses and households. And that would increase the government’s borrowing costs.

Persons: worryingly, Michael Saunders, ”, Saunders, that’s, Liz Truss, Dave Ramsden, Fitch, Moody’s, Raghuram Rajan, “ It’s, ” Rajan, Anna Cooban Organizations: London CNN —, Bank, CNN, Oxford Economics, Bank of England, AAA, States ’, Reserve Bank of India, Labour Party, Treasury Department, Federal, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Locations: Davos, Kingdom, Argentina, States, United States, Switzerland

☆ Sliding mortgage rates are helping to thaw the frozen housing market, Redfin says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

There's finally a glimmer of hope for the housing market, according to Redfin. AdvertisementThere are signs the frozen housing market is starting to thaw after a year where higher mortgage rates drove potential buyers away, according to Redfin. Still, the flare-up fueled a slowdown in housing market activity, with potential buyers disenchanted by higher rates and would-be sellers opting to stay put to take advantage of being locked in at a lower mortgage rate. Mortgage rates still look high compared to historic levels despite the recent pick-up in demand, according to real-estate agents. "There have been more tours and more offers on my listings since mortgage rates started declining," said Shay Stein, who works for Redfin in Las Vegas.

Persons: There's, —, Freddie Mac, Redfin, Shay Stein Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Redfin Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Charter shares plunge after chief financial officer says company may lose broadband subscribers in fourth quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Charter shares plunged more than 8% Tuesday after its Chief Financial Officer Jessica Fischer said the company could lose broadband subscribers in the fourth quarter. Charter competitor Comcast 's stock also slipped more than 3% in midday trading. Comcast reported it lost 18,000 broadband subscribers in the third quarter. Even so, Fischer believes Charter will return to subscriber growth, citing a potential rebound in the housing market. Adding "value back into video," referring to Disney and Charter's deal to include Disney+ in some Spectrum plans, will also drive competitiveness for Charter, Fischer added.

Persons: Jessica Fischer, Fischer Organizations: Comcast, UBS Global Media, Communications Conference, Disney, Charter, CNBC, CNBC PRO

Yes, you can get a mortgage in retirement, even if your only income comes from Social Security retirement benefits or other types of Social Security. How lenders view Social Security incomeMortgage lenders can't deny credit to applicants simply because their income comes from Social Security. Social Security income is viewed the same as any other type of income, with one exception that can work in recipients' favor. Additionally, if you have other sources of income aside from your Social Security income, be sure to include that in your application. Can you get a mortgage with only social security income FAQsCan I get a loan if my only income is Social Security?

Persons: —, you'll, Shashank Shekhar, Shekhar Organizations: Social Security, Service, Social, DTI, Security, Chevron Locations: Chevron

☆ High mortgage rates have limited opportunities for homebuyers and sellers. How that may change in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lower mortgage rates have prompted mortgage applications to pick up. Even the recent decline in mortgage rates may not provide incentive for homeowners to move. watch now"The story for 2023 has been one of homeowners staying put," said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. Monthly payments are falling as mortgage rates come down from their peak. The weekly average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 7.29% in late November, down from a 7.79% high in October, according to Redfin.

Persons: Daryl Fairweather Organizations: Bank of, Redfin, Redfin's

☆ The wealth of middle class and lower-income Americans grew at faster rate than high earners early in the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The median wealth of lower-income households shot up 101% between December 2019 and December 2021, while the middle class enjoyed a 29% increase. High earners had a median net worth of $803,400 in December 2021, while the middle class and lower-income households had nest eggs of $204,100 and $24,500, respectively, Pew found. Half of these households had a net worth of $500 or less in December 2021, compared to a net worth of $0 two years earlier. Poorer Hispanic households had a median net worth of $0, compared to a negative net worth of $1,100 at the end of 2019. Other government reports show that lower-income Americans lost ground in 2022.

Persons: Pew, ”, Rakesh Kochhar Organizations: CNN, Pew Research Center, Pew, Census Bureau Locations: White

☆ More US home buyers willing to purchase despite high rates -BofA study
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Nupur Anand | Thomson Reuters | Nupur Anand Is A U.S. Banking Correspondent At Reuters In New York. She Focuses On Jpmorgan Chase | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Dec 4 (Reuters) - U.S. home buyers are becoming more willing to purchase properties even as interest rates stay high, according to a study by Bank of America (BAC.N) published on Monday. That compares with average 30-year fixed mortgage rates that surged to 8% in October, the highest in more than two decades, which deterred buyers. They also sold their homes for career or family reasons or to seek a lower cost of living. New-home sales dropped 5.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 679,000 units last month as mortgage rates squeezed out buyers. Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Matt Vernon, “, ”, Vernon, Nupur Anand, Lananh Nguyen, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of America, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Homeowners, U.S, Wall, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Vernon, New York

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. Mortgage Rates for Buying a Home30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Decline (-0.16%)The current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.75%, down 16 basis points since this time last week. 20-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Go Down (-0.18%)The average 20-year fixed mortgage rate is down 18 basis points from last week and sits at 6.40%. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Decrease (-0.17%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.12%, down a bit from last week. Mortgage rates have risen throughout 2023, and they're higher than they were in November 2022.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

The latest decline brought the average rate on a 30-year mortgage down to 7.22% from 7.29% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now at the lowest level it’s been in 10 weeks, when it was 7.19%. “Market sentiment has significantly shifted over the last month, leading to a continued decline in mortgage rates,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. The average rate on a 30-year home loan climbed above 6% in September 2022 and has remained above that threshold since. The elevated mortgage rates and a near-historic-low supply of homes on the market have held back the housing market this year.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, “ Organizations: ANGELES, Mortgage Bankers Association, Treasury, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ Mortgage rates drop for fifth straight week
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It’s the fifth straight week rates have moved lower. The average mortgage rate is based on mortgage applications that Freddie Mac receives from thousands of lenders across the country. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. According to a forecast from Realtor.com, the average mortgage rate is projected to be 6.8% in the next year. “As mortgage rates are expected to remain elevated, current homeowners with low mortgage rates are expected to stay put, leading to a decline in for-sale inventory,” said Xu.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, “, Khater, Jiayi Xu, Xu, ” Xu, Joel Kan, ” Kan Organizations: DC CNN —, Inflation, Federal, Realtor.com, Treasury, Mortgage, Association Locations: Washington

☆ Housing Costs Are So High That Divorced Couples Are Still Living Together
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Clare Ansberry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Divorced and separated couples are facing their worst nightmare: sharing a house with the person they want to get away from. Behind the uneasy arrangement is the housing market. Mortgage rates are over 7% and average home prices have hit record highs. This means more couples can’t afford to leave their home with its less than 3% mortgage interest rates and set up two different households.

☆ They Want to Split Up. The Housing Market Won’t Let Them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Clare Ansberry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ US new home sales fall more than expected in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New home sales dropped 5.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 679,000 units last month, the Commerce Department said on Monday. September's sales pace was revised lower to 719,000 units from the previously reported 759,000 units. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for a small share of U.S. home sales, would fall to a rate of 723,000 units. Most homeowners have mortgage rates under 3%, making many reluctant to sell, boosting demand for new construction. Mortgage rates soared as the Federal Reserve aggressively raised interest rates to fight inflation.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Freddie Mac, Torsten Slok, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Commerce Department, Reuters, National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Apollo Global Management, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, New York

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. Mortgage Rates for Buying a Home30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Inch Down (-0.08%)The current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.91%, down eight basis points since this time last week. 20-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Decrease (-0.13%)The average 20-year fixed mortgage rate is down 13 basis points from last week and sits at 6.58%. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Essentially Flat (-0.02%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.29%, down a tiny bit from last week. Mortgage Refinance Rates30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates Fall (-0.16%)The average 30-year refinance rate is 7.10%, which is down from last week.

Persons: you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

The latest decline brought the average rate on a 30-year mortgage down to 7.29% from 7.44% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. “In recent weeks, rates have dropped by half a percent, but potential homebuyers continue to hold out for lower rates and more inventory,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Political Cartoons View All 1265 ImagesThe average rate on a 30-year home loan climbed above 6% in September 2022 and has remained above that threshold since. Just four weeks ago, it averaged 7.79% — the highest average on record going back to late 2000. The average rate is now at the lowest level it’s been in nine weeks, when it was 7.19%.

Persons: Freddie Mac, “, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Organizations: ANGELES, Treasury, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ A 30-Year Trap: The Problem With America’s Weird Mortgages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Ben Casselman | More About Ben Casselman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And now interest rates have soared to a 20-year high, eroding buying power without — in defiance of normal economic logic — doing much to dent prices. They have been insulated from rising interest rates and, to a degree, from rising consumer prices. Their monthly housing costs are, for the most part, locked in place. Because the interest rate is fixed, homeowners get to freeze their monthly loan payments for as much as three decades, even if inflation picks up or interest rates rise. But because most U.S. mortgages can be paid off early with no penalty, homeowners can simply refinance if rates go down.

Persons: Buyers

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. Mortgage Rates for Buying a Home30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Are Going Down (-0.30%)The current average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.95%, down 30 basis points since this time last week. 20-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Inch Down (-0.09%)The average 20-year fixed mortgage rate is down nine basis points from last week and sits at 6.66%. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Fall (-0.27%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.28%, down from last week. Mortgage Refinance Rates30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates Fall (-0.28%)The average 30-year refinance rate is 7.33%, which is down from last week.

Persons: you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

☆ Mortgage demand climbs to the highest level in five weeks after interest rates move lower
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Current homeowners and potential homebuyers are responding to lower mortgage rates, albeit slowly. Mortgage demand rose 2.8% last week, compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. "Although Treasury rates dipped midweek, mortgage rates were little changed on average through the week," said Joel Kan, MBA's vice president and deputy chief economist. Most borrowers carry much lower interest rates due to the record low rates seen during the first few years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lower rates may help a little, but still-rising home prices and the still-low supply of homes are bigger hurdles for today's potential buyers.

Persons: Joel Kan Organizations: Mortgage

☆ Welcome to the (almost) red-hot bond market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. Surging mortgage rates over the past few years have sent home loan applications and home sales down sharply. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage was also advancing towards 8% — a level not seen since the dot-com bubble popped in 2000. Those raging Treasury yields brought pain to investors and also increased how much American companies had to pay to service their debts. In fact, Wall Street is struggling to figure out what it means for the timing and scale of future rate cuts.

Persons: ”, Michael Hartnett, Gina Bolvin, “ We’re, Phillip Wool, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Ellen Zentner Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Federal, Treasury, Dow, Bank of America, Bolvin Wealth Management, Mortgage News, Mortgage, Association, Financial, Consumer, Federal Reserve, Goldman, Fed, UBS, Airlines for America, AAA Locations: New York

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