New U.S. residential construction declined in May to the slowest pace since the onset of the pandemic as an elevated inventory of homes for sale and high mortgage rates sapped the motivation to build. Housing starts decreased 9.8% to an annualized rate of 1.26 million homes last month, according to government figures released Wednesday. The […]
New home construction falls to five-year low Read More »
Mortgage rate movements stayed muted as investors await the culmination of June’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting later on Wednesday. Rates declined for the third consecutive week, but remained in that tight 6.8% range, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market survey reported. The survey was released a day early because of the Juneteenth holiday. What
Mortgage rates move lower ahead of Fed decision Read More »
Not only does the full panel of economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer feel the Federal Open Market Committee will not cut short-term rates at its meeting today and tomorrow, less than 10% expect it to act in July. The Blue Chip Economic Indicators report also soundly discounts Pres. Trump’s call for the Fed Funds Rate
No Fed rate cut until September at earliest, economists say Read More »
Mortgage rates continued to operate in the same low 6.8% range they have been in for most of the past two months since a 21 basis point spike in mid-April, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage declined 1 basis point as of June 12 from one week prior, to 6.84%, the Freddie
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Growth in loan products across the board in anticipation of the annual home purchase season pushed mortgage credit to its loosest in over two-and-a-half years, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. However, rate lock activity fell nearly 6% in May from April, as conforming mortgage rates rose over 16 basis points during the month, a separate
Mortgage credit offerings at loosest in over two years Read More »
For the first time in four weeks, mortgage rates have moved lower, following another seven-day period where the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield moved in a wide range. However, rates are still at levels last seen in February, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed. “The average mortgage rate decreased this week, which is welcome
Mortgage rates move lower for first time in four weeks Read More »
Lately, it feels like every headline about the housing market comes with a side of doubt. Are prices going up or down? Are we headed for a crash? Will rates ever come down? And all the media noise may leave you wondering: does it really make sense to buy a home right now? But here’s
Why Buying Real Estate Is Still the Best Long-Term Investment Read More »
Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher WallerBloomberg News As the Federal Reserve examines its approach to communications, one official said the central bank should consider changes to its quarterly forecasts. During an onstage appearance at an event hosted by the Bank of Korea, Fed Gov. Christopher Waller said he would like to see reforms to the summary
Fed’s Waller backs change to ‘dot plot’ economic outlook Read More »
Homebuyers in the current Spring season are having to come up with larger monthly principal and interest payments, although a measure of relief might be on the way. The Mortgage Bankers Association Purchase Application Payment Index rose to $2,186 in April from $2,173 in March, although it is down from $2,256 one year ago. “Homebuyer
Monthly mortgage payments on the rise, but not for long Read More »
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook.Bloomberg News Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook said that financial markets fared well in the face of uncertainty sparked by President Trump’s evolving tariff regime, but that more study is needed to understand how risks from nonbanks affect the banking system and vice versa. Speaking at a conference at New York
Fed’s Cook: More study needed on bank-nonbank interreliance Read More »