Mortgage rates are on the rise in the new year, just like economists predicted. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is up 45 basis points in less than a month, averaged 3.56% this week compared to 3.11% in the last week of 2021.“Mortgage rates moved up again as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose and financial markets adjusted to anticipated changes in monetary policy that will combat inflation,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief eco
Existing-home sales ended 2021 on a high note as home buyers rushed to buy a home to take advantage of ultra-low mortgage rates. Overall, sales were up 8.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday. But the new year could bring about lower sales numbers as more buyers become priced out and find fewer and fewer choices of homes for sale.The signs of a slight slowdown are already popping up. In December 202
Property owners are charging more for their single-family rentals as demand soars. Single-family rental prices continue to rapidly increase with record growth, according to CoreLogic’s Single-Family Rent Index. In November 2021, single-family rent growth nationally rose 11.5% year-over-year.Annual rent price growth has continued to double—and even triple—in the last several months in some markets, according to the index.“Improvements in t
Mortgage credit availability loosened in December, even as house hunters continue to face higher prices that are hampering affordability, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index posted its highest reading since May 2021. However, credit availability is still 30% below pre-pandemic levels."Credit supply increased in December, with growth across both conventional and government segments of the market
With moratoriums in place, foreclosures were nearly non-existent last year. Even as pandemic protections have lifted, a foreclosure wave—which was an industry concern—has not occurred.“The COVID-19 foreclosure tsunami that some people had anticipated is clearly not happening,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president at RealtyTrac, an ATTOM company. “Government and mortgage industry efforts have prevented millions of unnecessary forec
Inflation continues to press on mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.45% this week, up from last week’s 3.22% average, Freddie Mac reports.“Mortgage rates rose across all mortgage loan types, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increasing by almost a quarter of a percent from last week,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “This was driven by the prospect of a faster than expected tightening of monetar
The majority of home buyers—87%—finance their home purchase. But some aspiring buyers may delay their purchase due to persistent myths over down payment requirements.Thirty-five percent of consumers believe they need a down payment of 16% to 20% of the purchase price. Ten percent believe they need more than 20% for a down payment to purchase a home, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ survey data. With home prices rising by
Mortgage rates have taken a big leap at the start of the new year. In the first week of 2022, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped nearly 60 basis points higher than a year earlier, averaging 3.22% this week, Freddie Mac reports.“Mortgage rates increased during the first week of 2022 to the highest level since May 2020 and are more than half a percent higher than January 2021,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “With highe
The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it would be increasing upfront fees on second-home mortgages and on mortgages that finance homes with balances that exceed standard conforming loan limits. The fees are expected to increase the purchase cost of second homes and homes in high-cost areas.The new fees from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will take effect on April 1.Upfront fees for mortgage loans on second homes will rise between 1.125% and 3.
The latest COVID-19 variant is prompting a wave of new infections—more than 1 million daily cases were reported on Monday alone. Omicron is also the most contagious variant yet. But housing analysts don’t believe omicron will hamper the housing market and deter buyers and sellers—at least it doesn’t done that so far, observers say.Housing analysts acknowledge they were concerned as the new strain reached the U.S. in November and then saw
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