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☆ The housing market has never been this unaffordable for new buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New home buyers are facing the least affordable market ever, data from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows. A higher reading indicates declining borrower affordability conditions, due to either increasing loan amounts, rising mortgage rates, or a decrease in earnings. Meanwhile, the national median mortgage payment was $2,112 in April, up from $2,093 the prior month, per MBA data. As the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022, mortgage rates on 30-year fixed loans more than doubled from 3% to above 7%. As of now, with the Fed having made 10 consecutive rate hikes and the June meeting looming, mortgage rates are hovering just under 7%.

Persons: —, Edward Seiler, MBA's, Seiler, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Mortgage Bankers Association, Service, Privacy, Mortgage, Association, Mortgage Bankers, Federal Reserve, Baltimore Locations: Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, California, Louis, Detroit, Chicago

☆ Home buyers are facing the least affordable market on record
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesEdward Seiler is the associate vice president for housing economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Phil Rosen: The MBA's Purchase Applications Payment Index just hit a new high in April. For new home buyers, this is the worst situation since the end of the Great Recession. Current homeowners that were lucky enough to get a 2.75% interest rate in 2022 are in a great position, but for new buyers looking to buy a first home, or those looking to move to another home, it's a very daunting proposition. In his view, monthly payments for first-time buyers are up roughly one-third compared to last year — and that's going to keep buyers on the sidelines and weigh on demand.

Persons: I'm Phil Rosen —, Joe Raedle, Edward Seiler, Phil Rosen, Jen, Hsun Huang, Huang, Kim Kulish, Gregg Fisher, he's, Jensen Huang, It's, There's, Evercore's Mark Mahaney, Meta, shouldn't, David Rosenberg, who's, Larry Pitkowsky, Max Adams Organizations: Mortgage, Association, Twitter, Nvidia Corp, GPU Technology, Nvidia, Treasury Department, Fed, Tech Locations: San Jose , California, New York

☆ Aussie housing dip over, prices to rebound into next year on rate view
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Vivek Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary poll dataBENGALURU, June 1 (Reuters) - Australia's housing market outlook has improved significantly, with home prices expected to on average stagnate this year compared to the near double-digit fall predicted three months ago, according to a Reuters poll of housing analysts. They were then forecast to rise 4.5% in 2024, almost twice the expected rate from the previous poll. While ANZ and Westpac forecast no growth this year, CBA expected a 3.0% rise and NAB predicted a 4.0% decline in prices. "We are almost at the top of the RBA's hiking cycle, which means the headwind on property prices from rates ratcheting higher has largely run its course." (For other stories from the Reuters quarterly housing market polls:)Reporting by Vivek Mishra; Polling by Sujith Pai and Veronica Khongwir; Editing by Hari Kishan, Ross FinleyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Adelaide Timbrell, Gareth Aird, Shane Oliver, Vivek Mishra, Sujith Pai, Veronica Khongwir, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley Organizations: Bank of Australia, ANZ, Westpac, CBA, NAB, Economics, AMP, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, New Zealand

☆ US mortgage rates climb to their highest level since November
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —US mortgage rates jumped higher last week as uncertainty about the debt ceiling standoff sent bond yields rising. Mortgage rates tend to be pegged to US Treasury yields, which had been heading higher as America grows ever closer to default. Although the Fed doesn’t have direct control over mortgage rates, higher interest rates tend to push bond yields higher, which also can nudge mortgage rates up. “If the U.S. defaults on its debt, bond investments become riskier, resulting in increased yields and potentially higher mortgage rates. But if mortgage rates remain elevated, sellers looking to wrap up a move during the summer months may be motivated to cut prices.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Jiayi Xu, Joe Biden, Xu, “, George Ratiu, ” Ratiu, Bob Broeksmit, today’s, ” Xu Organizations: Washington CNN, Treasury, Federal, “, Realtor.com, Mortgage, Association Locations: America, U.S

☆ US mortgage giants were placed on credit watch. Here’s what that means for home buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —The credit ratings of US mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were put on watch for possible downgrade by Fitch Ratings late Thursday. The warning came because the ratings for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are linked to the sovereign rating of the United States. The aim of Freddie and Fannie is to provide liquidity into the mortgage market and enable a reliable flow of affordable funds to mortgage lenders. “The housing GSEs continue to benefit from meaningful financial support from the U.S. government,” the Fitch statement said. “While politics are at play, the ratings watch is a just that — a watch,” she said.

☆ The biggest home buyers in America are now selling more property than they're buying
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Commercial property headwinds aside, today we're looking at the residential housing market, which is undergoing its own shifts, but not exactly in the same direction. Tell someone that the housing market is so unfavorable right now that the biggest home buyers in the country are actually net sellers now. American Homes 4 Rent, for example, bought 312 single-family homes and sold 666 to start the year. Similarly, Invitation Homes, the largest owner of single-family rentals in the US, bought 194 homes and sold 297 in the first quarter of 2o23. Naturally, the housing market has slowed down for everyday Americans, too, given the steep mortgage rates and lack of affordability.

April's unexpected acceleration in inflation to 4.4% from 4.3% in March has some economists forecasting a hike later this year. "Inflation has come down. We expect it will continue to come down," Macklem said when asked about the inflation figures published this week. He did, however, acknowledge that April inflation "did come in stronger than we expected." "While most households are proving resilient to increases in debt-servicing costs, early signs of financial stress are emerging," particularly among recent home buyers, according to the so-called Financial System Review.

☆ Housing market shifts are driving out some of the biggest home buyers in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Institutional investors bought 90% fewer homes in the first two months of 2023 compared to a year ago. High rates and home prices have turned some big buyers into net sellers this year. That trend accelerated from the fourth quarter, when institutional home-buying activity slumped 79% from a year ago, according to Fortune. Among the institutional investors, American Homes 4 Rent was a net seller of homes in the first quarter, buying 312 single-family homes and shedding 666, per Fortune. Similarly, Invitation Homes — the largest owner of single-family rentals in the US — was a net seller in the first quarter.

☆ China's new home prices rise at slower pace in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary April new home prices +0.4% m/m vs +0.5% m/m in MarchApril prices -0.2% y/y vs -0.8% y/y in MarchBEIJING, May 17 (Reuters) - China's new home prices rose for the fourth straight month in April but at a slower pace, official data showed on Wednesday, as government efforts to stabilise the sector lifted sentiment after the country's abrupt exit from COVID curbs late last year. New home prices in April edged up 0.4% month-on-month versus a 0.5% gain in March, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. April's slower pace of home price gains, along with bearish data on Tuesday showing property investment and sales sharply falling, add to concerns over the strength of the recovery in a sector crucial to the health of China's economy. From a year earlier, prices fell 0.2%, the 12th month of decline in annual terms. Beijing's aggressive stimulus policies to the crisis-hit property sector since November have boosted sentiment over the past few months.

☆ New home construction rose in April after a dip in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

However, housing starts, a measure of new home construction, were down 22.3% from a year ago, according to data released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. After surging in February following five consecutive months of falling, housing starts fell in March. Single‐family housing starts in April rose 1.6% from the revised March figure, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 833,000. Building permits, which track the number of new housing units granted permits, fell in April after also dropping in March. Building permits were down in the Northeast and Midwest, but climbed in the South and West.

☆ Home Depot posts worst revenue miss in about 20 years, lowers forecast as consumers delay big projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Home Depot reported its biggest revenue miss in more than 20 years and lowered its forecast for this year, as consumers delay big projects and buy fewer big-ticket items like patio sets and grills. The company said it now expects sales and comparable sales to decline between 2% and 5% for the fiscal year. Yet he said the anticipated pullback has been compounded by rising mortgage rates and a shift toward spending on services. It marked the second quarter in a row that Home Depot missed Wall Street's revenue expectations. Home Depot in the quarter sold fewer pricier discretionary items, such as new appliances, McPhail said.

☆ The housing market has frozen over. Here's why experts say home affordability isn't getting better any time soon.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The housing market is frozen, and affordability is unlikely to get better soon, experts told Insider. Activity has slowed thanks to high mortgage rates, which have pushed both buyers and sellers out of the market. That's largely because the Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates high over the next year, which will influence mortgage rates to stay elevated. Housing in limboIt's a precarious time for the US housing market, with activity slowing significantly in recent months as the Fed aggressively hiked interest rates. Mortgage rates — and likewise, home affordability — will hinge on the Fed's future interest rate moves and any subsequent volatility in rate markets.

☆ Home buying costs could spike by 22% if US defaults on its debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Housing costs would spike by 22% with the rate for 30-year, fixed rate mortgages rising above 8%. “While we don’t expect a debt default to occur, if it did, it would have unprecedented effects on the financial system,” said Jeff Tucker, a senior economist at Zillow. If there were to be a debt default, the biggest projected deficit would come in September, with an estimated 23% fewer existing home sales. Mortgage rates tend to follow yields on 10 year Treasury bonds and would likely rise, too. “It is a looming risk about a month away, so it isn’t yet wreaking havoc on 30-year mortgage rates.

☆ The Home Buyer’s Quandary: Nobody’s Selling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Nicole Friedman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many Americans who want to move are trapped in their homes—locked in by low interest rates they can’t afford to give up. These “golden handcuffs” are keeping the supply of homes for sale unusually low and making the market more competitive and pricey than some forecasters expected.

☆ U.S. home buyers persevere despite high rates, prices: study
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Nupur Anand | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, May 9 (Reuters) - U.S. home buyers are still committed to their plans to buy a property despite rising interest rates, high inflation and slowing growth, according to a study by Bank of America (BAC.N) published on Tuesday. Of the 1,000 respondents surveyed, 54% said they will speed up their home purchase plans, or stick to their original timing, even as prices rise and inventory stays low. Buying a home is an even bigger priority for people under 40 than other age groups, the study showed. Almost half of the prospective buyers surveyed by BofA said they were looking to buy a house because they are tired of renting and rent increases. Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ This couple paid $200,000 for their 180-year-old rainbow farmhouse and spent just as much on renovations—take a look inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The two sat down together and drew a circle around New York City on a map and started looking for where they could buy land for a farm. The 180-year-old farmhouse originally sat on 40 acres of land. The couple initially bought 16 acres, but was eventually able to buy the entire property back. Two months and 25 viewings later, they saw a 180-year-old farmhouse on 16 acres of land in Kingston, New York. Over time, Katwise and Brown were able to buy the other 24 acres, which brought the property back to its original size.

☆ This house just got 25 offers. But, yes, the market is still cooling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Within 48 hours the sellers were in contract with a buyer offering well over the asking price. Even though fewer people are buying homes now than a year ago, “we still have more buyers in the market than we have inventory. But it isn’t 2021, mortgage rates are now over 6%. In Rye, New York, she said, one property sold for $600,000 over the asking price. That home ultimately sold for $75,000 over the asking price.

☆ Mortgage Fees, (Seriously), Spurred Outrage on TikTok. Here’s Why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Tara Siegel Bernard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mortgage fees usually induce yawns and glazed-over eyes. But when word began circulating last month that updated pricing would cost some home buyers more, it resulted in viral TikTok videos with thousands of outraged comments misinterpreting the new rules. Many critics raised similar questions: Why were some borrowers with lower credit scores and down payments receiving improved pricing on their mortgage rates, while others with high credit scores and larger down payments were being charged more? To clear up any confusion, the federal regulator behind the new pricing had to issue a statement: Sparkling credit still pays. “You still get a better rate and loan pricing if you make a higher down payment and have better credit,” said Bob Broeksmit, president and chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association, an industry trade group.

☆ How much money do you need to buy a home in 2023?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ana Connery | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home or upgrade the one you already have, homebuyers often wonder how much money they really need to buy a home. And these days, the answer is ever more complicated thanks to the high interest rates and inflation. Refinance it with a balance transfer cardToday’s average homebuyerWe may see interest rates fall once rent comes down. The main culprits that everyone points to are inflation and interest rates, but many experts think interest rates have peaked. Home inventory is still low in some areasDespite high interest rates, you might still see multiple offers on one home.

☆ What Another Fed Rate Increase Means if You Want to Buy a House
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Veronica Dagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Economists say the mortgage market has already priced in another Fed rate increase. Photo: Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg NewsHome buyers dreading another rate increase by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday can take heart: The move is probably already priced into current mortgage rates. The Fed is expected to raise interest rates another quarter-percentage point, lifting the benchmark federal-funds rate to a 16-year high as part of its continuing campaign to stamp out inflation. The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, but rate increases push up the yield on the Treasury note higher, which in turn pushes up the cost of a mortgage.

☆ America's broken housing market is making millennials and Gen Z lonelier
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Loneliness is a perceived lack of connection — the discrepancy between the social connection someone has and the connection they want. Holt-Lunstad's widely-cited research has found that loneliness and social isolation have health impacts comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. People who live in communities with more walkable neighborhoods, shared space, greenery, and diverse types of housing, feel more socially connected and less lonely. In her work, Peavey has come up with six design strategies for creating third spaces — places that aren't home, work, or school — to facilitate social connection. But neighborhoods need to be dense and walkable in order for people to easily access these places because cars and physical distance get in the way.

☆ Home Buyers Are Eager but Sellers Are Scarce, Creating ‘Real Gridlock’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Gregory Schmidt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The housing market typically comes to life in spring, when buyers emerge in the warmer weather. This year, the market appears stuck in a deep freeze, and the biggest culprit is a lack of sellers, housing experts say. The mismatch is caused in part by homeowners who are inclined to sell but are sitting on the sidelines, scared off by the steep prices and mortgage rates that they would face as buyers. More than three-quarters of sellers in a recent survey by Realtor.com said they felt “locked in” to their home by their own low mortgage rate, according to a recent survey by Realtor.com. More than half said they planned to wait until rates fell before putting their homes on the market.

☆ These indicators tell us the housing market is hitting the brakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Before we rush into the weekend, let's check in with the slowing pace of the housing market, and what that means for the rest of the year's outlook. Another sign pointing to a softer housing market is lumber. But that's going to reverse in the decade ahead as Boomers age out of the housing market and post-Millennial generations shrink. What are you seeing in the housing market in your part of the country? In other news:A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 9, 2020.

☆ The Four Things to Haggle Over When Buying a Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Veronica Dagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Home buyers might have better luck saving thousands of dollars by focusing their haggling skills on items other than the home’s purchase price. The price of the home is a major detail, especially as mortgage rates move up. But given that the housing market remains competitive in several parts of the country, home buyers hoping to negotiate down a seller’s asking price might risk losing their bid.

☆ A housing economist shares the top 5 markets with the highest risk of price declines, plus where mortgage rates could be by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mortgage rates are expected to be in the high fives by year-end, says Selma Hepp. Five US metros including Salt Lake City and Boise are highly vulnerable to price declines. It is a rough time for the real-estate market as mortgage rates remain volatile. Although mortgage rates are difficult to predict, Hepp says they could be in the high fives or about 5.8% by year-end. Below is a list of the markets with the highest risk of price declines, according to CoreLogic data.

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