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☆ Home Sellers Take On the Realtors Cartel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Allysia Finley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady and Kim Strassel. Images: Reuters/AFP/Getty Images/Bloomberg News Composite: Mark KellyThe 1.5 million-member National Association of Realtors spent $81.7 million on political lobbying in 2022, more than any other business group. Consider Burnett v. NAR, a federal class-action suit that Missouri home sellers have brought against the association. The case, which went to trial last week, presents an existential threat to the cartel. If the plaintiffs prevail, home buyers and sellers could save $120 billion in fees each year.

Persons: Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady, Kim Strassel, Mark Kelly, Burnett Organizations: AFP, Getty, Bloomberg, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: Missouri

☆ 5 successful real-estate investors who started with as little as $5,000 in savings explain how they leveraged FHA loans to buy their first properties
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Before writing off real estate as too expensive to invest in, you'll want to consider all of your options. Here's how it works and how you can use one to buy real estate and start building long-term wealth. How everyday people have leveraged FHA loans to buy property and build wealthBoston-based investor Karina Mejia used an FHA loan to buy her first property at age 22 . It's a joke but it is solid advice: Before you actually get married, you should each use your own FHA loan." You can get your foot in the door without too much upfront cash by using an FHA loan."

Persons: Ludomir Wanot, witxh, Wanot, Karina Mejia, Sasha, It's, Mejia, Avery Heilbron, Heilbron, Jervais, Jim Resonable, That's Organizations: Federal Housing Association, Evergreen Housing, Ludomir, Seattle, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: Seattle, Boston, Georgia, North Carolina, North Carolina , California

☆ The interest rate on the most popular American home loan hits 8% for the first time since 2000
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rates on the 30-year fixed mortgage hit 8% on Wednesday, per Mortgage News Daily. It's the first time the interest rate on the most popular US home loan hit that mark since mid-2000. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor the first time since 2000, the rate on the typical 30-year fixed mortgage hit 8% on Wednesday, according to Mortgage News Daily. Mortgage rates are a critical input for the affordability equation for prospective home buyers, and in previous eras of rising rates, home prices have declined as borrowing costs increase. The rise in rates has sent mortgage applications tumbling to their lowest level in almost three decades, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Persons: Bond, — Organizations: Mortgage, Service, Mortgage News, Treasury, Association, National Association of Realtors

☆ China's measures to shore up its indebted property sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The following is a list of recent measures for the sector which accounts for roughly a quarter of the world's second-largest economy. Sept. 14 - China's central bank said it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves for the second time this year to boost liquidity. Aug. 31 - China's central bank and financial regulator ease some borrowing rules for homebuyers, including lowering existing mortgage rates for first-home buyers and the down payment ratio in some cities. July 10 - China's central bank extended until the end of 2024 some policies in a November rescue package to shore up the real estate sector. June 20- China's central bank cut its key lending benchmarks, or loan prime rates (LPRs), for the first time in 10 months.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Liangping Gao, Ryan Woo, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, megacities

☆ A Higher Monthly Payment, but Less Square Footage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Conor Dougherty | More About Conor Dougherty | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With interest rates rising and mortgage costs with them, homebuilders are pulling in yards, tightening living rooms and lopping off bedrooms in an attempt to keep the monthly payment in line with what families can afford. In a recent survey of architects, John Burns Research and Consulting found that about half expected their average house size to decline. New communities will have more duplexes or small-lot single-family homes that are just a few feet apart. Even in Texas, where land is abundant, builders are adding more homes per acre, the company found. “The monthly payment matters more than anything else and builders have responded with smaller, more efficient homes,” said John Burns, the company’s chief executive.

Persons: John Burns, ”, Hayden Organizations: John Burns Research, Consulting Locations: Texas, Pacific Northwest, exurbs

☆ 5 tips on how to buy property in a high-interest-rate environment from 5 real-estate investors who started with little or no money down
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a whopping 7.43% on Monday, a level unseen in the US in almost two decades. That same setup would cost $2,222 a month with today's mortgage rate. Regardless of which direction the pendulum swings, investors can still navigate their way through the housing market with a few tips. If a buyer were to purchase it today, with a 20% down payment, monthly mortgage costs would be $3,350, according to Insider's mortgage calculator. He then secured the remainder of $910,000 from a bank at an interest rate of 6.5%.

Persons: Sam Primm, Lucas Walls, Primm, there's, Sharon Tseung, Tseung, Chris Gerbig, couldn't, Gerbig, he's, Matthew Tortoriello, Tortoriello, Ana Snider Organizations: Primm, San Francisco Bay Area, MLS, Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Agriculture Locations: Primm, San Francisco Bay, Jacksonville , Florida, Lemoore , California

☆ How to Prepare Every Part of Your Life for a Recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Tanza Loudenback | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

But a recession brings other threats too, like the potential for major stock market swings that can derail financial goals. As soon as the line begins to tick upward again, the economy exits a recession and enters an expansion. Are we in a recession or is a recession coming? How to preparePreparing your finances for a recession isn’t all that different from practicing good money habits in your daily life. You’ll likely have to make some real-time adjustments to meet short-term goals while enduring a recession, McCoy says.

Persons: Loudenback, it’s, ”, Ross Hamilton, Raymond James, you’ve, Hamilton, aren’t, “ You’ve, Eric Roberge, ” Roberge, Megan McCoy, “, ’ ”, McCoy, You’ll, ” Hamilton, you’re, “ There’s, there’s, ” McCoy, Roberge, ‘ I’ve Organizations: Wall Street, National Bureau of Economic Research, Kansas State University Locations: U.S, Bethesda, Md, Boston, Hamilton

☆ Fed's Harker says high interest rates closing off housing for new buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Michael S. Derby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker stands behind the Jackson Lake Lodge in Jackson Hole, where the Kansas City Fed holds its annual economic symposium, in Wyoming, U.S. August 24, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Saphir/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker said on Monday the current level of interest rates has nearly killed off access to the housing market for those looking to get in for the first time. In the text of a speech to the Mortgage Bankers Association's annual convention, Harker said when it comes to housing, based on his interactions in his district, "the climate could be crystallized in seven words, which one of those contacts said to me recently: 'There are no first-time home buyers.'" Harker explained that high interest rates have hit the housing sector by boosting costs and contracting inventory because many people no longer wish to sell, while pushing more prospective buyers into newly built homes. Reporting by Michael S. Derby; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Patrick Harker, Ann Saphir, Harker, Michael S, Paul Simao Organizations: Philadelphia Federal, Kansas City Fed, REUTERS, Mortgage, Thomson Locations: Jackson, Wyoming, U.S

☆ Adjustable-rate mortgages are making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Meanwhile, the average rate for a kind of adjustable rate mortgage — a 5/1 ARM — dropped to 6.33% from 6.49%. (Freddie Mac, which provides an average that CNN covers weekly, does not track interest rates for adjustable rate mortgages). When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. Fixed rate vs ARMWhile the overwhelming share of loans are still fixed-rate mortgages, ARMs are becoming more attractive in the current higher-rate environment. Generally, homeowners with higher mortgage rates will pay more in interest rather than principal for a longer time than those with lower interest rates.

Persons: —, Freddie Mac, ”, Bob Broeksmit, Melissa Cohn, Cohn, National Association of Home Builders —, ” Cohn, Kaylin Dillon, Jay Zigmont, ’ ” Zigmont, you’re Organizations: DC CNN, Mortgage, Association, CNN, “, ARM, Fed, Federal Reserve, William, Treasury, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors, National Association of Home Builders, Childfree Locations: Washington, Israel, Kansas, Mississippi

☆ Navigating Today's Housing Market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Diana Olick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNavigating Today's Housing MarketWith mortgage rates high and housing inventories low, the market for home buyers and sellers is a tricky one. Advising clients on what might be the biggest sale and purchase decisions they ever make is tough even in the best of times. National Association of Realtors President Tracy Kasper joins CNBC Senior Climate and Real Estate Correspondent Diana Olick to make sense of it all.

Persons: Tracy Kasper, Diana Olick Organizations: National Association of Realtors, CNBC, Real Estate

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Companies accounting for 40% of Chinese home sales - mostly private property developers - have defaulted on debt obligations since a liquidity crisis hit the sector in 2021, leaving many homes unfinished. The developer had been working towards announcing a restructure of its offshore debt, Chinese media reported on Monday. Country Garden faces another big test next week when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15 million September coupon by Oct. 17. "The difficult situation shows that Chinese developers face severe liquidity pressure from weak home sales, and repayment to bondholders is still a lower priority," said Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank.

Persons: Aly, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Morningstar, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Gary Ng, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Garden Holdings, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, Natixis Corporate, Investment Bank Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Home buyers are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is going to be painful for homeowners and sellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There is no end in sight for high mortgage rates, and sellers are dropping prices. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe housing market is in an ugly place right now for buyers and while things may be stabilizing, that just means pressure will likely shift from buyers to sellers. Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman made headlines in recent weeks with several interviews where he said the housing market had hit "rock bottom." "The housing market is just taking a beating because affordability is at a four-decade low. While the market might not get worse for buyers, sellers are not yet at rock bottom after enjoying years of rising home values.

Persons: —, Glenn Kelman, Kelman, ZIlloq, Paul Bradbury, Zillow, Jeff Tucker, Redfin, Jeremy Grantham, Grantham, David Rosenberg, Rosenberg, Merrill Lynch, Luis M, Alvarez, Tom Barkin, Alou Diarra, Getty Organizations: Service, CNBC, Getty, Cleveland Fed, Altos Research, Rosenberg Research, North, AP, Richmond, Fed Locations: North American

☆ The one thing in markets everyone should be watching
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The 10-Year US Treasury yield is arguably the most important thing to watch right now for investors. The 10-Year yield has soared to levels not seen since 2007, and that's having a big impact on stock prices. Here's what you need to know about what bond yields are doing to markets and the economy. Rising bond yields are also thrashing the bond market, as bond prices fall when yields rise. AdvertisementAdvertisementHigher interest rates also means higher credit card rates, leading to a rise in delinquencies in recent months.

Persons: —, It's, Ray Dalio, Bill Ackman, Bill Gross, JPMorgan's Marko Kolanovic, Kolanovic Organizations: Treasury, Service, Treasury Bond ETF, Fed, Pershing, CNBC Locations: delinquencies

☆ Interest rates are putting home demand and supply in a gridlock, says Black Knight's Andy Walden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | 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 EmailInterest rates are putting home demand and supply in a gridlock, says Black Knight's Andy WaldenAndy Walden, Black Knight VP of enterprise research strategy, and CNBC's Diana Olick join 'The Exchange' to discuss higher rates crushing affordability for potential home buyers, the path to normalization in the housing market, and the lack of inventory leading to higher prices.

Persons: Black, Andy Walden Andy Walden, Diana Olick

☆ The US housing market is starting to flash a few rays of sunshine for homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US housing market is starting to flash a few rays of sunshine for prospective homebuyers. It comes as the housing market has been stuck, with sales activity stalling as high rates discourage buying and selling. In fact, the situation is so bad that Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman recently declared the market has hit "rock bottom." More precisely, the 30-year mortgage rate hit the highest level in 23 years, climbing further above 7%. In the existing home market, sellers are growing open to negotiating about the asking price, or offering concessions, like funding home repairs or a mortgage-rate buydown.

Persons: —, Glenn Kelman, Altos, Redfin, David Palmer Organizations: Altos Research, Service

☆ Evergrande’s chairman has been detained. The company will struggle to survive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But that plan now looks to be in peril, after police detained its chairman as well as staff at a financing subsidiary. Previously China’s second biggest real estate company, Evergrande’s default in 2021 ignited a crisis in the property sector that continues to weigh on the wider economy. It said it needed to reassess the terms of the restructuring plan, in part because sales had been weaker than expected. “The debt restructuring can’t really happen if Evergrade can’t issue new debt or equity, and it doesn’t seem like it can,” Magnus said. As for Magnus, he believes Evergrande’s time as an independent company is over.

Persons: Evergrande, Xu Jiayin, Hui Ka Yan, ”, George Magnus, Bobby Yip, ” Magnus, “, Tyran Kam, Fitch, Kam, Yicai, What’s, Magnus, “ They’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Oxford University’s China, SOAS University of London, Shenzhen government’s, CNN, Fitch Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, United States

☆ There's one 'lucky' group of homeowners in America's housing market, says a Zillow economist
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US homeowners who are downsizing now are "lucky," Skylar Olsen, Zillow's chief economist told MarketWatch. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . For context, the value of the US housing market has surged about 50% from the pre-pandemic days in January 2020 to nearly $52 trillion now, according to a Tuesday report from Zillow. California is currently the US' most valuable housing market, per Zillow. The state's housing market is now worth over $10 trillion — nearly 20% of the national total.

Persons: Skylar Olsen, Olsen, —, Zillow's Olsen, Insider's James Rodriguez Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors, MarketWatch, Census, NAR Locations: Zillow . California, Florida , New York , Texas, New Jersey

☆ U.S. pending home sales fall more than expected in August
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Amina Niasse | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index fell 7.1% to 71.8 from July's revised 77.3. The decrease, the largest since September 2022, exceeded the median economist forecast for a 0.8% fall, according to a Reuters poll. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales were down 18.7%. "It's clear that increased housing inventory and better interest rates are essential to revive the housing market." Pending sales of existing homes slid by the most in the South and West regions.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Lawrence Yun, Amina Niasse, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage, Association, Federal, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, South, West

☆ Pending home sales plunged in August as 2-decade high mortgage rates continue to squeeze both buyers and sellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Pending home sales slipped 7.1% in August in another sign of the housing market's slump. Multi-decades high mortgage rates are keeping homebuyers out of the market. AdvertisementAdvertisementPending home sales slipped 7.1% in August compared to July, according to the National Association of Realtors. "Mortgage rates have been rising above 7% since August, which has diminished the pool of home buyers," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in the release. Home sales dipped from August across all regions of the country, falling the most in the South, where pending sales recorded a drop of 9%.

Persons: —, Lawrence Yun, Glenn Kelman, NAR's Yun Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors, NAR

☆ See the 19-page pitch deck used to raise $5.5 million for NewHomeMate, a Zillow-like platform for newly constructed homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But finding the right fit isn't always easy, thanks in part to the old-school practices of most homebuilders. Vyshnevska and Hnatkovskyy launched NewHomeMate (formerly PropertyMate) in 2020, as the housing market was beginning to reach a fever pitch. Earlier this year, the company announced that it had raised a $5.5 million seed round from funders to expand and grow its vision. "Many people realized that now is the best moment to buy homes, even with high interest rates, if you see where rent is going across much of the United States, and their only real option is new construction," Hnatkovskyy said. Vyshnevska and Hnatkovsky walked Insider through the pitch deck they used to raise their $5.5 million seed round with some confidential financial information redacted.

Persons: homebuyers, Sofia Vyshnevska, Dan Hnatkovskyy, Vyshnevska, Hnatkovskyy, DR, Hnatkovsky Organizations: DR Horton Locations: homebuilders, United States

☆ China's central bank to use 'precise, forceful' policy to bolster recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 27 (Reuters) - China's central bank said on Wednesday it would step up policy adjustments and implement monetary policy in a "precise and forceful" manner to support an economy whose recovery was improving with "increasing momentum". The central bank will guide banks to lower borrowing costs for companies and households and support banks to replenish capital, it said. China will step up government investment and policy incentives to spur private investment and promote a recovery in prices from a low level, the central bank said. The central bank also pledged to promote the healthy and stable development of the property market, implementing policies to lower down payment ratios and mortgages rates for some home buyers.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Kevin Yao, Himani Sarkar, Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, megacities

☆ China Risks Property Debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Source: China Real Estate Information Corp. (CRIC)The physical size of Country Garden’s real estate portfolio is enormous. The Weight of Debt The ballooning debt crisis could delay the prospect of a recovery of both the property market and the broader Chinese economy, in which real estate is a core pillar. China property sector slump China’s property sales, investment and funds raised by property developers slid in January - August 2023 after a sharp fall in 2022. China's property sector accounts for more than half of global new home sales and home building, according to Nomura. Any contraction in the property sector will affect China’s growth, thus sending ripple effects around the globe as the world’s factory slows.

Persons: Evergrande, homebuyers, Nomura, David Stanway, Jason Lee, –, Moody's, Yawen Chen, Amr Alfiky Organizations: Country, Garden, Estate Information Corp, CIFI Holdings, Sunac, National Bureau of Statistics, China, Investment, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Nomura, JPMorgan, Dubai, National Bureau of Economic Research Locations: China, Burj, Burj Khalifa, Sunac China, Kunming, Yunnan province, Beijing, Xuchang, Henan province, United Arab Emirates

☆ US new home sales tumble in August
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

New home sales plunged 8.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 675,000 units last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. July's sales pace was revised higher to 739,000 units from the previously reported 714,000 units. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for a small share of U.S. home sales, falling to a rate of 700,000 units. New home sales are counted at the signing of a contract, making them a leading indicator of the housing market. At August's sales pace it would take 7.8 months to clear the supply of houses on the market, up from 7.0 months in July.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Freddie Mac, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Commerce Department, Reuters, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Data, National Association of Home Builders, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S, Wells Fargo, West, Midwest, Northeast

☆ It's about to become much harder for young people to buy a home as student-loan repayments resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Student-loan repayments will restart on October 1 following a three and a half year hiatus. After more than three and a half years of moratoriums on student loans, repayments are set to resume on October 1. The average student loan borrower has more than $37,000 in federal student-loan debt, according to Bankrate. Manny Garcia, a senior population scientist at Zillow, told Insider that student-loan repayments will likely jeopardize buyers' ability to afford home purchases this year. "Before the pandemic, borrowers were already choosing between meeting their own basic needs and making their student-loan payments.

Persons: —, it's, Manny Garcia, Garcia, Pulsenomics, Zillow, Will Lemke, Stephanie Hall Organizations: Service, Center for American Progress, Wall Street Journal, Inside Mortgage Finance

Due to the competitive real estate market, even in small-town Kansas, homes only stayed on the market for a matter of days at most. Our competition responded first, by keeping their offer as it was but waived their right to have the house inspected before closing. Perhaps for a moment we wondered if we should have also waived our inspection and saved that money. In fact, while we were buying our house, a relative was having a similar foundation problem repaired to the tune of $15,000. Check today's average mortgage rates and learn more about the amount of house you may be able to afford.

Persons: Kansas, Ian, didn't, We're Locations: Utah, Kansas

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