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A sharp drop in mortgage rates brought homebuyers off the fence in October after a slow summer. Sales were 2.9% higher than October of last year, marking the first annual increase in more than three years. While mortgage rates remain elevated, they are expected to stabilize.”There were 1.37 million units for sale at the end of October, an increase of 19.1% from October 2023. That is still high historically, but lower mortgage rates likely caused that share to drop. Mortgage rates are much higher now, at 7.05% on the 30-year fixed.

Persons: ”, Lawrence Yun, ” Yun, Chen Zhao Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mortgage News, Fed Locations: Redfin

Mortgage rates were forecast to go down in 2025. Expectations of higher inflation and more government debt under Trump have helped mortgage rates rise in recent weeks. Why mortgage rates rose ahead of the election — and are still high nowMortgage rates went down a lot in September, with 30-year rates dropping near 6%, according to Freddie Mac. How Trump's policies could lead to higher mortgage ratesZhao says that right now it's "nearly impossible" to predict where mortgage rates will go in 2025. More supply would help moderate home price growth, improving affordability even if mortgage rates remain high.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump's, —, Freddie Mac, they're, Chen Zhao, Melissa Cohn, Trump, Zhao, Kamala Harris, Cohn Organizations: Trump, Service, Bond, William, Mortgage, Analytics

☆ Here's how natural disasters are shaping the buy-versus-rent decision in vulnerable states like Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Owning a home in high-climate risk states like Florida is becoming tougher amid rising costs. Experts say the next few years will be crucial for housing policy in the wake of severe climate disasters. On the one hand, buyers are facing rising costs as insurance premiums skyrocket. Still, a big advantage to owning a home is the ability to lock in housing costs. That's especially true after climate disasters, according to one study that looked at rent prices following hurricanes in US coastal states.

Persons: Hurricane Milton, homebuyers, Chen Zhao, Jung Hyun Choi, Choi, Katrina, Zhao Organizations: Service, Institute's, Finance Policy Center Locations: Florida, Hurricane, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, it's

☆ China’s ‘whatever it takes’ moment? Investors hope for hundreds of billions in new stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

China's Ministry of Finance, pictured here in Beijing in 2021, is refunding taxes and cutting fees to support economic growth. China's Finance Minister Lan Fo'an is set to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Saturday local time on "intensifying" fiscal stimulus policies, the country's State Council Information Office said. Authorities are likely to affirm that at the press conference on Saturday, Zhao said. At the time, Chinese major indexes began to rally, surging over 25% as investors cheered on the slate of stimulus measures. Lan Fo'an, China's Minister of Finance, attends a press conference during the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 6, 2024.

Persons: Cong, Lan Fo'an, NDRC, Zheng Shanjie, Chen Zhao, CNBC's, Zhao, Chetan Ahya, Morgan Stanley, Wang Zhao Organizations: of Finance, Bloomberg, Getty, China's Finance, Beijing, Investors, National Development, Reform, Authorities, China's Ministry, Finance, China's, National People's Congress, Afp Locations: Beijing, country's, Shanghai, Asia

☆ Strategist: The 'Chinese government is panicking', now's the time to get into Chinese equities
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | 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 EmailStrategist: The 'Chinese government is panicking', now's the time to get into Chinese equitiesChen Zhao of Alpine Macro says Chinese equities are undervalued, and that the recent stimulus push makes them a strong play – but adds that selectivity is remains crucial.

Persons: Chen Zhao

☆ Homebuyers Have Hope With Lower Mortgage Rates, More Houses Available
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Wild swings in mortgage rates discouraged almost everyone from venturing out into the market. As I wrote earlier this year, a gummed-up housing market — the Ice Age I was talking about — is good for nobody. When mortgage rates hit multidecade lows during the pandemic, millions of people were able to snag or refinance their way into cheaper monthly costs. That'd be within spitting distance of what the experts at John Burns Research and Consulting, a housing-research firm, call the "magic mortgage rate." In other words, trying to predict mortgage rates — and buying or selling a home accordingly — is a fool's errand.

Persons: Green, that's, Skylar Olsen, everyone's, it's, there's, Fannie Mae, John Burns, they'd, Ralph McLaughlin, Olsen, Lawrence Yun, Altos, Mike Simonsen, Chen Zhao, Zhao, We're, Mark Palim, Palim Organizations: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Reserve, John, John Burns Research, Consulting, National Association of Realtors, Altos Research, Builders, Sun Locations: Sun Belt, Midwest

☆ A new report from Redfin shows how stuck the housing market really is
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A rate cut by the Federal Reserve this month has fueled hopes that the interest rate-sensitive housing market will soon experience a fresh jolt. “What this data tells us is that the housing market in 2024 has been really frozen,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s economic research lead. Zhao said a market where 30 to 40 of every 1,000 homes changed hands would signify a healthier housing landscape. “That very low inventory on the market was one of the primary drivers of there being so little turnover.”A shortage of new home construction also contributed to America’s sluggish housing market. “Getting to a healthy housing market is very hard from this point,” Zhao said.

Persons: ”, Chen Zhao, “, Zhao, Redfin, —, Jeremiah Vancans, Vancans, ’, Patrick Chamberlin, Chamberlin, Freddie Mac, it’s, ” Zhao, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, California ., “, Boston, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, National Association of Realtors Locations: —, Redfin, California, California . Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Austin , Texas, The Texas, Sun Belt, New York City, Phoenix

☆ A record number of apartments are getting built this year. That's great news for real estate affordability.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US will see construction completed on a record number of apartments this year. The Sun Belt region in particular is seeing this dynamic play out. The US will see construction on a record number of apartments completed this year. They're now seeing rent prices fall, or at least remain stagnant as the rest of the nation lags behind. That means the market will eventually balance itself in the next few years, which will lead rent prices to once again rise, she said.

Persons: —, Laurie Goodman, Goodman, Austin, Chen Zhao, Zhao Organizations: Service, Housing Finance, Center, Urban Institute, Sun, metros, Dallas, Harvard Locations: Dallas, New York, Austin

☆ The Fed is poised for its first rate cut in years, but it may be too soon to refinance your mortgage
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Reserve is poised to make its first interest rate cut in years on Wednesday. While mortgage rates are partly influenced by the Fed's policy, they are also tied to Treasury yields and the economy. Home loan rates have already started to come down in recent weeks, slightly induced in part by favorable economic data and indications the Fed could cut rates. As of Thursday, Sept. 12, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the U.S. was 6.20%, according to Freddie Mac data via the Fed. "It's almost impossible to figure out what mortgage rates are going to do from week to week or month to month," Ostrowski said.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Freddie Mac, Jeff Ostrowski, Ostrowski Organizations: Federal, CNBC, Treasury, Finance Locations: Redfin, U.S

☆ Top 5 Best and Worst Cities for New Home Listings: Redfin
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The housing market is finally reviving as mortgage payments decrease for the first time in 4 years. Here are the top 5 cities with the most new listings — and 5 with the least. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! Signs of life in the market include the fact that monthly mortgage payments decreased last month for the first time since 2020 with mortgage rates at a 15-month low, according to Redfin. Mortgage rates are slated to come down further as the Fed begins cutting interest rates soon, giving homebuyers confidence that buying conditions are improving.

Persons: —, Chen Zhao Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Looking to buy a home? Redfin's research lead says a flood of housing supply is set to hit the market by the end of 2025 as locked-in homeowners finally start selling.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewProspective homebuyers are painfully aware of just how bad the housing market is right now. Mortgage rates have doubled since 2022 following the Federal Reserve's initiative to raise rates and curb inflation. In an interview with Business Insider, she shared her predictions for the housing market and mortgage rates. Advertisement"That can help to alleviate some of the pain associated with getting a higher rate," Zhao said. The housing market isn't going to unlock overnight, but Zhao is optimistic that conditions will improve for homebuyers going forward.

Persons: —, Chen Zhao, … Zhao, Zhao, It's, Zhao doesn't Organizations: Service, Federal, Business, Fed, Bank of America Locations: Florida

☆ Looking to buy a home? Redfin's research lead says a flood of housing supply is set to hit the market by the end of 2025 as locked-in homeowners finally start selling
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: —, Chen Zhao, … Zhao, Zhao, it'll, Zhao doesn't Organizations: Service, Federal, Business, Fed, Bank of America Locations: Florida

☆ Wall Street will get key insight on the consumer, inflation in the week ahead as recession fears swirl
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The wildest week of 2024 has investors bracing for more volatility in the week ahead, with key insight on the consumer and inflation coming at a time when recession fears are top of mind. Inflation, labor data Next week's inflation data could get less attention than it has over the past year when the Fed's fight against pricing pressures put inflation reports on center stage. Recently, it's been the labor market getting the most attention. "The market's caring much more about about labor markets and growth, than they do inflation right now," Ladner said. Week ahead calendar All times ET Monday, Aug. 12 2 p.m. Treasury Budget (July) Tuesday, Aug. 13 8:30 a.m. Producer Price Index (July) Earnings: Home Depot Wednesday, Aug. 14 8:30 a.m. Consumer Price Index (July) 8:30 a.m.

Persons: Scott Ladner, it's, Ladner, —, Strategas, Ryan Grabinski, RJ Assaly, Jeremy Siegel, Chen Zhao, Zhao, Price Organizations: Federal, Walmart, Home, Horizon Investments, Bank of Japan, Wharton, Fed, UBS, Investments, Treasury Budget, Price, Philadelphia Fed, Retail, Manufacturing, Materials, Tapestry, Deere, Co, Housing Locations: U.S, NAHB, Michigan

☆ In these 4 American cities, the housing market just reached an incredible milestone
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Chicago, Phoenix, Washington and Anaheim, California, have joined New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston as cities where total home values top $1 trillion, according to the report. San Diego and Seattle are close behind, with total home values of approximately $987 billion and $971 billion, respectively. That’s been the story of the US housing market for years as Americans grapple with one of the most unaffordable housing markets in a generation. Home prices fell in only one metro areaHome values in some cities are growing more quickly than others, Redfin’s report found. Only one metro area saw its home values fall, Redfin said: Cape Coral, Florida saw the value of its housing market drop of 1.6% over the last year.

Persons: underscoring, ”, Chen Zhao, That’s, Newark –, Redfin, Austin, Zhao, “ Organizations: CNN, Gallup, Fed, “ Locations: Redfin . Chicago, Phoenix , Washington, Anaheim , California, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Diego, Seattle, New Jersey, New York City –, Brunswick, Newark, . New Brunswick, Anaheim ; New Haven , Connecticut, South Carolina, Coral , Florida, Orleans

☆ Housing affordability is 'moving in the right direction,' economist says. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A slight decrease in mortgage rates in the month of June definitely helped buyers, said Yun. Housing affordability is improving ever so modestly, but it is moving in the right direction. While there's still an affordability challenge broadly, conditions are "moving towards a more neutral market," Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow. Total housing inventory registered at the end of June was 1.32 million units, up 3.1% from May and 23.4% from a year ago, according to NAR. Competition is easing fastest in the South, where all major southern markets except Dallas and Raleigh are either neutral or buyer-friendly, according to the June 2024 Zillow Housing Market Report.

Persons: Yun, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, Chen Zhao, there's, Selma Hepp Organizations: Sdi, CNBC, Investors, National Association of Realtors, Zillow Locations: Redfin, Dallas, Raleigh

☆ The first Fed interest rate cut in years is on the horizon. Here's what homeowners, buyers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve is poised to make the first interest rate cut in years this fall, which can influence mortgage rates to go down. To that point, people in the market to buy a home have been eagerly waiting for the Fed to cut rates. The Fed is meeting this week, but experts say it seems more likely that the first rate cut will come in September. That would be the first rate cut since 2020 in the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While mortgage rates are fixed and mostly tied to Treasury yields and the economy, they are partly influenced by the Fed's policy.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Freddie Mac, Refinance, it's, Zhao, Selma Hepp, Hepp, Jacob Channel, there's Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Mortgage, Association, Finance Locations: Redfin

☆ Defining a buyer's market 'is always a bit tricky,' real estate expert says: 4 signs to monitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Despite those headwinds, some indicators show the housing market is shifting away from a seller's market. That doesn't mean it's a buyer's market — yet: "The term buyer's market is always a bit tricky to work with," said Chen Zhao, the economic research lead at Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. There are "rules of thumb" to define a buyer's market, like having more than four months of supply, she said. "We're still nationwide somewhat in a seller's market, not a buyer's market yet," he said. Here are four signs that can help you recognize if the housing market in your area is more in buyers' favor: 1.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Chen Zhao, Zhao, they're, We're, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin, Julie Zubiate, Selma Hepp, Sellers Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal, Zillow, CNBC, Finance, Sdi, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: U.S, Redfin, San Francisco Bay

☆ Investor home purchases jump for the first time in two years. Here's what that means for buyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowWhat an investor home purchase meansIn this context, investors are defined as any institution or business that purchases residential real estate, according to Redfin. Investor share refers to the portion of homes purchased by investors over a certain period, said Chen Zhao, senior economist at Redfin. Part of the recent increase in real estate investor activity is due to seasonality, as more homes are typically sold during the spring, Walsh said. Sales began to decline as mortgage rates climbed, as higher interest rates affect both typical homebuyers and investors, he said. What investor interest means for buyers and rentersIf you're a consumer buying on the market, you are competing against investors on top of other typical homebuyers, Zhao explained.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Zhao, Matthew Walsh, there's, aren't, Moody's, Redfin's Zhao, Walsh, Sales Organizations: Investor, Parcl Labs, Moody's, Investors, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ No relief on the horizon for home prices, says Redfin's Chen Zhao
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | 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 EmailNo relief on the horizon for home prices, says Redfin's Chen ZhaoChen Zhao, Redfin Senior economist, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the state of the housing market and the rising cost of home prices.

Persons: Redfin's Chen Zhao Chen Zhao, Redfin

☆ Should you refinance your mortgage? Here are three signs it's time, real estate experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Thanks to those high mortgage interest rates, refinance activity in 2023 was at the lowest level in 30 years. In the first and second quarters of 2023 there was only $75 billion and $80 billion, respectively, in mortgage refinance originations nationally, according to Freddie Mac, a government-sponsored entity that buys mortgages from banks. "We're just in a much higher interest rate situation with the economy," she said. "We've been so accustomed to mortgage rates as a baseline being at 2% or 3%," said Veronica Fuentes, a certified financial planner at Northwestern Mutual. Some lenders may require a higher interest rate if you finance closing costs, plus you'll be paying interest on those expenses for the life of the mortgage.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Jeff Ostrowski, Chen Zhao, Zhao, We've, Veronica Fuentes, that's, Ostrowski, CoreLogic's Organizations: Westend61, Getty, Federal Reserve, Northwestern Mutual

☆ Housing 'affordability has just totally collapsed,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Since the pandemic, affordability has just totally collapsed," said Chen Zhao, a senior economist at Redfin. February 2021 was the last month when the typical household earned more money than they needed to afford the median home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets the standard of affordability at 30% of household income. Affordability deficit narrowed in FebruaryThe average household fell short $29,448 to afford a home in February, according to Redfin. The affordability deficit narrowed because rates have been on a consistent decline since the last peak in October, according to Zhao.

Persons: Chen Zhao, They've, Zhao, It's, Jeff Ostrowski, Veronica Fuentes, Fuentes, Ostrowski, Buyers, Redfin, Louis, What's Organizations: Getty, Redfin, Finance, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Development, Northwestern Mutual, Cleveland Locations: U.S, Detroit, Pittsburgh, St, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Warren, Mich, Cincinnati, Milwaukee , Kansas City , Virginia Beach, Va, Antonio, Columbus , Ohio

☆ The US housing market added $2 trillion in value last year, boosted by a nationwide shortage of homes for sale
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US residential market added $2.4 trillion in value last year, listings site Redfin said. AdvertisementThe housing market in the US added $2.4 trillion last year, jumping to $47.5 trillion. Though housing demand has been dampened by stubbornly high mortgage rates, the total value of the market climbed by 5.3% from December 2022, preliminary data released by Redfin on Wednesday showed. Pandemic-era mortgage rates fell below 3%, driving a frenzy of buying in 2020 and 2021. The combination of elevated mortgage rates, high home prices and a limited pool of homes for sale means homeownership is about as unaffordable as ever.

Persons: Redfin, —, aren't, Chen Zhao Organizations: Service Locations: Redfin, New York City, New Jersey, Midwest, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, New York, Honolulu , Riverside, Denver

☆ Mortgage rates surge higher again, causing homebuyers to pull back
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

After a brief reprieve in December and January, mortgage rates are moving higher again, and that is taking its toll on mortgage demand. Total mortgage application volume fell 2.3% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. "That's because mortgage rates are climbing again and winter weather has been harsher than usual in much of the country, keeping some house hunters at home." Mortgage rates surged even higher Tuesday after a government report on inflation showed it was still stubbornly higher than expected. "The bond market (which underlies mortgage rates) reacted immediately and forcefully when the numbers came out.

Persons: Joel Kan, Chen Zhao, Bonds, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Mortgage News Locations: Pico Rivera , California, Redfin

☆ The Fed pushed back against imminent rate cuts this week. Here's what that means for the housing market.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

More importantly, though was Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's pushback against the idea that rate cuts are imminent. So, what does this mean for the housing market, which is eagerly anticipating lower rates to make housing even slightly more affordable? According to Redfin, pushing out timelines for Fed rate cuts means mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated for longer this year, but it doesn't mean relief is off the table for homebuyers in 2024. "Regardless of any short-term volatility in mortgage rates, we expect rates to come down gradually throughout the year," Redfin's Chen Zhao wrote following the Fed meeting. AdvertisementThe real estate group notes that other forces are at work in the mortgage market as well, and the Fed isn't the only input.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell's pushback, Redfin's Chen Zhao, Redfin, we'll, Powell, Fannie Mae Organizations: Service, Reserve, Business, US Department of, Treasury, Bank of America

☆ Banks in Japan are primed to do well going forward. What's driving them and how to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

One place in the world stands as a beacon for investors in bank stocks: Japan. Japanese banks have outperformed in a year when U.S. banks have come under pressure both from rapidly rising interest rates and the regional banking crisis last spring. "We've been bullish on Japanese banks for a long time," said Chen Zhao, chief global strategist at Alpine Macro. Part of what's driving the bull case for Japanese banks is the country's yield curve. While the U.S. and other developed economies contend with an inverted yield curve that's weighing on financial profit margins, Japan continues to have a positive yield curve.

Persons: We've, Chen Zhao, Zhao, JPMorgan's Marko Kolanovic, Japan's, Kolanovic, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, Regional Banking, Treasury, Japan Post Bank, Chiba Bank, JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan, Resona Holdings Locations: Japan, U.S, EWJ

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