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☆ U.S. Mortgage Rate Jumps to Highest Level Since 2002
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Gregory Schmidt | More About Gregory Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Mortgage rates jumped to a 21-year high this week, climbing back above 7 percent and making it even harder for buyers to afford homes in an already difficult market. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage — the most popular home loan in the United States — was 7.09 percent, up from 6.96 percent last week, Freddie Mac said on Thursday. A year earlier, the 30-year rate was 5.13 percent. The current rate is the highest since April 2002. In the intervening period, home buyers enjoyed years of falling rates, which even dipped below 3 percent at the beginning of the pandemic.

Persons: United States —, Freddie Mac Locations: United States

One area looks safe from the dreaded “R” word: the housing market. Goldman predicts home prices will rise even more next year, in part because housing supply is so constrained. Forecasts of a prolonged housing market slump haven’t materialized. Those moves have helped push mortgage rates to a 22-year high. “Home buyers have demonstrated behavior that, in our view, reflects unsustainable adaptations to elevated mortgage rates,” the Goldman Sachs strategists Roger Ashworth and Vinay Viswanathan wrote in a research note.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Bankrate, Roger Ashworth, Vinay Viswanathan Organizations: Fed Locations: U.S

☆ Goldman Sachs: 20 Cities With Highest and Lowest Home-Price Growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Goldman Sachs says determined home buyers aren't being deterred by higher interest rates. Strategists at Goldman Sachs no longer expect home prices to drop for the full year 2023. Homeowners who are locked into lower rates aren't likely to give that up in exchange for new property. Housing affordability has returned to its historic 2007 lows, according to Goldman Sachs' Housing Affordability Index. This means smaller, more affordable homes are increasing demand, leading to higher price growth in that part of the housing market.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Roger Ashworth, Goldman Locations: Charlotte, Atlanta

☆ What 7% Mortgage Rates Mean for Home Buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Veronica Dagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-7-mortgage-rates-mean-for-home-buyers-c5e88c1b

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ What Is a Roth IRA and How Does It Work?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Tanza Loudenback | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

How does a Roth IRA work? “A Roth IRA offers investors a lot of flexibility which, in my opinion, is its biggest benefit,” says Eric Presogna, a financial planner in Erie, Pa.How is a Roth IRA different from a traditional IRA and from a 401(k)? The annual limits apply to traditional and Roth IRAs, in aggregate—meaning you can’t add more than the allowed amount to your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. High-income workers can use the “backdoor Roth” strategy to get money into a Roth IRA. How to fund a Roth IRAA Roth IRA typically needs to be funded before you can start choosing investments.

Persons: Roth, “ Roth, ”, David Edmisten, Internal Revenue Service doesn’t, you’re, Roth IRAs, we’ll, “, Eric Presogna, Nick Cantrell, don’t, posttax Roth, Cantrell, Zach Teutsch, brokerages, IRA —, ” Teutsch Organizations: IRA, Internal Revenue Service, Roth IRA, Washington , D.C, Fidelity, Vanguard, IRS, Financial Locations: Prescott, Ariz, Erie, Pa, Massachusetts, Washington ,

☆ The Brooklyn landlord everyone hates could soon come to your neighborhood. Tenants warn these private equity groups are raising rent and ignoring maintenance issues.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Private equity firms have bought up hundreds of smaller apartment buildings in trendy New York neighborhoods. Private equity firms own a very small, but growing, fraction of American real estate. Some argue that private equity, hedge funds, and other institutional investors are a convenient target and are being unfairly blamed for the nation's worsening housing affordability crisis. The recent increase in private equity purchases, particularly of single-family homes, has drawn scrutiny, including from Congress, over the last few years. Democrats also couldn't reach agreement on measures that would have boosted tenant protections, including rent stabilization and eviction protections.

Persons: Kathy Hochul's, Hochul Organizations: Service, Carlyle Group, The New York Times, Conway Capital, Peak Capital Advisors, Times, Institutional, New York Gov, Democrats Locations: New York, Brooklyn, Wall, Silicon, gentrifying, Queens, Bushwick, Bedford, Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Ridgewood , Queens, York City, Brooklyn's Gowanus

☆ US housing starts surge in boost to economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The sharp rebound in groundbreaking on single-family housing units reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday was another sign of the economy continuing to defy dire forecasts of a recession. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, jumped 6.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 983,000 units last month. The increase in groundbreaking was led by the West, where single-family starts soared 28.5%. Overall housing starts increased 3.9% to a rate of 1.452 million units in July. TIGHT SUPPLYDespite the rise in starts, housing supply is likely to remain tight.

Persons: Mike Blake, homebuilding, Christopher Rupkey, Freddie Mac, Nancy Vanden, Daniel Silver, Goldman Sachs, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, Federal, National Association of Home Builders, Reuters, Oxford Economics, Treasury, Realtors, U.S, Fed, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: San Marcos , California, U.S, New York, homebuilding, Nancy Vanden Houten, Midwest

☆ China's new home prices fall for first time this year, dimming economic outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 0.2% fall month-on-month came after June's flat reading, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. The decline in home prices comes amid a worsening debt crisis at major developers, sliding property investment and home sales. Among 70 cities, 49 saw a fall in new home prices month-on-month in July from 38 cities the previous month. However, most economists expect the downside trend in home sales and prices to persist for while. "Without additional major policy easing and/or fiscal support, property sales and investment may weaken further or stay at the bottom for longer than assumed in our baseline," said Wang.

Persons: Jason Lee, Goldman Sachs, Wang Tao, Wang, Qiaoyi Li, Liangping Gao, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Goldman, Asia Economics, China, UBS Investment Bank, Thomson Locations: Wangjing, China, BEIJING, Zhengzhou, Xian, Fuzhou

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoHONG KONG/NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Chinese fears of a spillover from missed payments on some shadow banking linked trust products and worsening consumer sentiment are expected to hasten a policy response to revive the country's cash-starved property sector. Zhongrong International Trust Co, which traditionally had sizable real estate exposure, has recently missed repayments on some investment products, fuelling contagion fears. 'CONTAGION'The trust sector had been a major fundraising channel for property developers seeking rapid expansion. The outstanding value of trust products invested in the property sector was 1.2 trillion yuan as of end-2022, down about 30% year-on-year. Still, exposure to the real estate sector varies from different trust firms.

Persons: Aly, Yan Wang, Nomura, Arthur Kroeber, Kamil Dimmich, Phillip Wool, Wool, Vidya Ranganathan, Laura Matthews, David Randall, Ziyi Tang, Sumeet Chatterjee, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, HONG KONG, Trust Co, Barclays, International Trust, South Capital LLP, China Equity ETF, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG, Zhongrong, Beijing, New York, London, Singapore, Summer Zhen

☆ China's Country Garden stock plummets to record low, trading of onshore bonds suspended amid debt restructuring talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Shanghai Country Garden Center pictured on August 9. Country Garden acknowledged last Thursday that it was facing a temporary “liquidity pressure” due to deteriorating sales and a difficult refinancing environment. Troubled giantCountry Garden is the latest major Chinese developer to run into trouble as the country’s property industry grapples with a historic downturn. The crisis at Country Garden is likely to spill over to the property industry and financial markets, analysts from Moody’s Investors Service said Friday. So far, Country Garden hasn’t yet defaulted on any debt.

Persons: hasn’t, CICC, Aly Song, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Garden, CNN, Shanghai Country Garden, Reuters, Country Garden, Longfor, China Resources, ., . China Overseas Land, Investment, Evergrande, Moody’s Investors Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, . China

☆ This sophisticated investing strategy could be making a comeback after a blow to the FTC
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Valida Pau | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Merger arbitrage investors have been struggling this year. Play the gap Merger arbitrage can be a tricky strategy for regular investors to incorporate. Investors can buy into the following funds for exposure to merger arbitrage: The Arbitrage Fund (ARBNX) The Merger Fund (MERIX) The NexPoint Merger Arbitrage fund (HMEAX) The First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF (MARB) The IQ Merger Arbitrage ETF (MNA) To be sure, many of these funds charge a hefty fee. Kroger and Albertsons , the two largest biggest grocers by revenue, just notched a regulatory win after a judge dismissed a consumer lawsuit challenging the $25 billion merger. Tower Semiconductor is trading for around $34 a share such that the arbitrage spread stands at more than 50%.

Persons: Activision Blizzard, Andrew Beer, Dealmaking, John Orrico, Salvatore Bruno, VMware's, Black Knight, it's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Activision, FTC, Microsoft, Hedge Fund Research, Beta Investments, Global, Horizon Therapeutics, Activision Blizzard, Broadcom, VMware, Intercontinental Exchange, Black, CNBC, Kroger, Albertsons, Intel, Semiconductor Locations: Island, Water Island, British, Israel

☆ China’s Home Buyers Are Waiting Out the Property Slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Cao Li | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-home-buyers-are-waiting-out-the-property-slump-bcbf9239

Persons: Dow Jones

My mortgage broker demystified the homebuying process and guided me step by step. Here's how my mortgage broker and I worked out a plan to make my dreams of homeownership a reality and how I'm preparing for mortgage renewal in the not-too-distant future. See Insider's picks for the best mortgage lenders »My mortgage broker ran the numbers for different scenariosI spoke with a few mortgage brokers before deciding to work with the brilliant Lisa Okun. Compare today's 30-year mortgage rates »I know renegotiating my mortgage will be complexI like to know how much I'm going to need to spend. Because the interest rates in Canada were so low at the time (around 2.5%), I felt good about locking into that rate.

Persons: Lisa Okun, Lisa, They've Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ontario, Canada

☆ How to Save for a House
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Michele Lerner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

By Michele LernerThe need to save looms large in the home buying process. 5 strategies to save for a houseZillow estimates that it would currently take the typical household saving 5% of their income close to nine years to save a 10% down payment on a typical house. For example, if you’re aiming for $50,000 down on a $500,000 home in three years, you’ll need to save nearly $1,400 a month. That means the fastest way to save is often to cut costs on the place you live. However, he says you should at least save the minimum to earn any 401(k) matching contributions your employer offers and have a plan to increase your contributions after you buy a house.

Persons: Michele Lerner, you’re, ”, Isabel Barrow, Barrow, Cash, Tom Mathews, Matt Steenson, ” Barrow, Mathews, —, you’ve, “, ” Steenson, Steenson Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Edelman, News Corp, The, Street, PNC Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Locations: Alexandria, Va, Atlanta, Pittsburgh

☆ Country Garden default? China's property crisis deepens as developer misses bond payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The latest major industry player to get into trouble is Country Garden, once China’s largest developer. Several of Country Garden’s yuan-denominated bonds were suspended from trading in Shanghai and Shenzhen on Tuesday after they dropped by more than 20%. Country Garden did not respond to a request from CNN for comment. An aerial view of a residential project developed by Country Garden Holdings is seen in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province on October 31, 2021. Property crisis deepensChina’s property industry has been mired in a historic downturn in the past two years.

Persons: “, Fang Dongxu, ”, Edward Moya, Moody’s, Kaven Tsang, Li Qiang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Reuters, CNN, Country Garden Holdings, China Index Academy, Oanda, China’s, People’s Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China, Moody’s, Beijing, People’s Bank of China

☆ Italy windfall tax: European bank stocks bounce after tax blow is watered down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Banking stocks in Italy and elsewhere in Europe rebounded Wednesday after the country watered down a plan to whack its banks with a surprise one-off 40% tax on their windfall profits. The government’s climbdown eased investors’ fears over European banks more broadly. The Stoxx Europe 600 Banks index, which tracks 42 big banks in the European Union and the United Kingdom, gained 1.7% after shedding 3.5% the previous day. Late Monday, the government said it would impose a one-off windfall tax of 40% and would use the proceeds to support first-time home buyers and cut taxes for families and businesses. Several European countries, including Spain and the Czech Republic, have announced taxes on banks’ windfall profits in the past year as interest rate hikes by central banks have beefed up many lenders’ earnings.

Persons: ’, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Remo Casilli, Jeremy Hunt, Moody’s Organizations: London CNN — Banking, Banco, European Union, Reuters, Deutsche Bank, DB, Bank Locations: Italy, Europe, United Kingdom, Rome, Spain, Czech Republic

☆ 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

☆ Millennials powered America’s homeownership boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Rather, the homeownership rate measures the percentage of all occupied housing owned by the occupants, as opposed to occupied by renters. By 2022, the US homeownership rate was 65.8%, up from 64.6% in 2019. Homeownership rates dipped as low as 63.4% following the foreclosure crisis that began in 2004 and the Great Recession that began in 2008. Homeownership rates have recovered just half of the 5.6% drop in homeownership between 2004 and 2016. Between 2016 and 2019, the homeownership rate increased for buyers under 55, according to the Census Bureau.

Persons: Yue, Chris Parsons, —, ”, Yue Parsons, — Parsons, Parsons, We’re, Jessica Lautz Organizations: Washington CNN, Census, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: New York City, Manhattan, United States, homebuying, San Francisco, New York, Austin , Texas, Miami, Phoenix, homeownership

☆ Are You Ready to Buy a Home? Should You Rent? Take Our Quiz.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Before you even start looking, ask yourself a crucial question: Should I rent, or should I buy? A financial gut check First and foremost, the decision to rent or buy will depend on your financial situation. Unless you’re independently wealthy and ready to purchase a home with cash (if you are, why are you reading this article? The decision to buy a home isn’t only about finances, and owning isn’t right for everyone who can afford it. If the answer is exactly where you are, it might be a sign that you’re ready to buy.

Persons: Mark Conlan, Read, you’re, Don’t, you’ll, Sellers, it’s, I’ll Locations: Youngstown , Ohio, Manhattan

☆ Mortgage rates climb, edging closer to 7%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —US mortgage rates jumped this week, climbing closer to 7%. “This development, along with upcoming employment and inflation data, will determine how much mortgage rates may rise in the short term.”Should employment and inflation pick up steam, she said, mortgage rates are likely to continue climbing as markets anticipate further monetary tightening. Mortgage rates tend to track the yield on 10-year US Treasuries, which move based on a combination of anticipation about the Fed’s actions, what the Fed actually does and investors’ reactions. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. Many homeowners held off on listing their home for sale, largely in response to today’s high mortgage rates, Jones said.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Hannah Jones, Jones, ” Jones, “ Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, Fitch, U.S, Realtor.com, US Treasury, Treasury Locations: Washington, “

☆ Wall Street landlords are selling homes back to Main Street. Here's what it might mean for runaway housing prices.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The companies — Invitation Homes and AMH — have already sold 1003 homes this year, through July, to non-corporate buyers, according to Insider's analysis of data from real estate tracker Attom Data. The group, which has included Wall Street firms like Blackstone (which spun off Invitation Homes), has been blamed for exacerbating the housing shortage that has pushed real-estate prices sky-high. One exception might be in 2019 when Invitation Homes sold 785 homes to non-corporate buyers, versus 225 sales through July of this year. The lack of housing supply, which has kept prices high even as mortgage rates rise, makes selling homes in markets that cost more to operate rentals a profitable play. In reporting earnings last week, Invitation Homes increased its core revenue guidance for the rest half of the year because its rent prices actually outperformed expectations.

Persons: —, AMH, Jon Olsen, execs, Dallas Tanner, Tanner, Gary Beasley, Roofstock, Beasley, He's, Dave Singelyn, Singelyn Organizations: Attom, Wall, Blackstone, Invitation Homes, SFR, Invitation, MLS, Homes, Sun, Wall Street, Homeowners, Seller Services Locations: SFR, New York City, America

☆ Morgan Stanley: These are the 5 key themes shaping the housing market for years to come, and the 5 stock-market industries filled with opportunities and pitfalls investors need to watch for
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Mark Reeth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Morgan Stanley economists see a stronger housing market cycle and interest rates being cut in 2024. Luckily, Morgan Stanley strategists think the housing market is finally reaching a turning point. That will mark the end of the current craziness and the beginning of a new housing market cycle. As for the US industries and stocks connected to the housing market, Wilson noted that tomorrow's market will bring about different winners and losers. Higher interest rates mean higher mortgage rates, and higher mortgage rates mean lower demand for mortgages.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Mike Wilson, Wilson, homebuyers, there's, isn't, Morgan Stanley Wilson Organizations: Housing Locations: homeownership, rentership

☆ Is Ohio really that great of a place for first-time homebuyers?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Are you a first-time homebuyer who recently moved to Ohio? Some may be found in Ohio, according to data from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com. In Youngstown, buyers earning at least $75,000 can afford to purchase 72% of listings, while those in Akron and Toledo can afford to buy 61%. It begs the question: Is Ohio really that great of a place for first-time homebuyers? We want to hear from current Ohio residents who are first-time homebuyers or recently relocated to or within the state.

Persons: homebuyer, Toledo —, Ian Beniston, Beniston, it's, Eric Cooper, he's, Cooper, Sellers, Alcynna Lloyd Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors, Realtor.com, Ohio —, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, Columbus —, Coldwell Banker, Bureau, alloyd Locations: Akron, Toledo, Youngstown, homebuying, Ohio, Wall, Silicon, There's, Ohio — Youngstown , Akron

☆ UK house prices drop by most since 2009: Nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - British house prices fell by the most since 2009 in the 12 months to July, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Friday, as the drag from rising interest rates on the housing market intensified. Compared with July last year, the average house price was down 3.8% after a 3.5% annual fall in June, Nationwide said. House prices fell 0.2% month-on-month, Nationwide said. "This challenging affordability picture helps to explain why housing market activity has been subdued in recent months," Gardner said. Still, Gardner said a relatively soft landing for the housing market was achievable.

Persons: Robert Gardner, Gardner, BoE, Andy Bruce, Kate Holton Organizations: Nationwide, The Bank of England, Reuters, Thomson

☆ China real estate: Home sales by top 100 developers plunged further in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The drop in new home sales in China is the steepest monthly decline since July 2022. For the first seven months of this year, new home sales by the 100 developers fell 4.7% from a year earlier. China’s huge property industry was long an important engine of economic growth, accounting for as much as 30% of the country’s GDP. As a result China’s property industry has been mired in a historic downturn in the past two years. And late last year Beijing unveiled a 16-point plan to ease a liquidity crisis in the real estate sector.

Persons: —, …, ”, Nomura, “, Li Qiang, ” Nomura Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s, Hong, Estate Information Corp, People’s Bank of Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, People’s Bank of China

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