Economy

New-home sales top forecasts on surge in South and Midwest

U.S. new-home sales rose unexpectedly in April to the highest level since February 2022 on a surge in the South and Midwest. Purchases of new single-family homes increased nearly 11% last month to a 743,000 annual rate, according to government data released Friday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was a 695,000 […]

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Real Estate Is Voted the Best Long-Term Investment 12 Years in a Row

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! Infographics, Economy Some Highlights In a recent poll from Gallup, real estate has once again been voted the best long-term investment. And it’s claimed that top spot for 12 straight years now. That’s because homeownership is one of the top

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Home sales cancelled at near-record pace in April

Home sales transactions were cancelled at a near-record rate in April, another likely side effect of uncertainty enhanced by President Trump’s tariff announcement earlier in the month, Redfin said. Approximately 56,000 signed purchase agreements were withdrawn during the month, which equates to a 14.3% rate. This is up from 13.5% one year ago and is

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Mortgage rates keep rising, influenced by DC developments

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage moved 5 basis points higher from last week, but still remains under 7%, at least according to Freddie Mac. “Mortgage rates inched up this week but continue to remain lower than one year ago,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, in a press release. “With more inventory for buyers

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Christopher Waller

Waller: Fed not looking to buy bonds amid sell-off

Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller.Bloomberg News Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said the central bank is not looking to intervene in the Treasury market despite a recent dampening in demand for U.S. debt. Long-term bond yields are surging for the second time in as many months, with rates on the 10-year notes climbing two basis

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Mortgage rates will go below 6% next year, Fannie says

Fannie Mae now forecasts mortgage rates to slip back under 6% by the second quarter of 2026 as it elevated its gross domestic product outlook and modified its home sales projections. The origination forecast, while increased over both its March and April projections, other than for rates, remains more conservative than the Mortgage Bankers Association’s

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Lenders feel better, not exuberant, about housing market

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest forecast for 2025­ expects volume to be slightly lower than previously thought, with a 14% increase in the number of units produced.  Mike Fratantoni, the group’s chief economist speaking at its Secondary & Capital Markets Conference in New York on Monday, recounted discussions he had in recent days with people

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Sean Grzebin is the CEO of Chase Home Lending

Chase Home Lending CEO on AI, growth, and market volatility

Sean Grzebin stepped into the role of CEO of Chase Home Lending in November, armed with the advantage of having worked across functions at the bank since 2011. With a career that has taken him from PHH Mortgage in 1997, to Countrywide, to Goldman Sachs and then Chase, Grzebin has seen his share of market

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Inflation news helps to push mortgage rates higher

While the 30-year fixed rate mortgage remained under 7% for the 17th consecutive week according to Freddie Mac’s calculations, it increased 5 basis points as the bond markets remain volatile over the U.S. economy. This and other measurements moved in the same direction with the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which rose 25 basis points

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Even as prices moderate, many US homes remain overvalued

The average home in more than half of the nation’s metro areas was overvalued by more than 10% during the fourth quarter of 2024, the latest Sustainable Home Price Trends report from Fitch Ratings declared. Nationwide, prices were 11% above where they should be, a reduction from 11.1% in the third quarter. But 85% of

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