Mortgage rates dropped slightly this week, but overall, they were mostly flat, offering some temporary relief to borrowers.Mixed economic data this week prompted mortgage rates to remain in mostly a holding pattern, says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Manufacturing output and consumer spending showed improvements, but construction activity was a disappointment,” Khater says. “This meant there was no driving force to move mort
A federal appeals court in Texas has ruled that the leadership structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency—the caretakers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—is unconstitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Texas agreed with shareholders that the FHFA was “unconstitutionally insulated from executive control” with its single-director structure. The director cannot be removed by the president except for cause. If the co
Newcomers to the real estate business are joining the REALTOR® family in droves. The number of REALTORS® rose from 1.22 million in March 2017 to 1.3 million in April 2018, according to the 2018 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, released Thursday. There are more rookies hopping on the bandwagon too: 29 percent of members now have less than two years of experience. (Members of NAR account for about half of all active real estate
New York, Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey lawmakers are suing the federal government over a tax reform bill that put a cap of $10,000 on certain state and local tax deductions, including property taxes. Several states—such as these four—have state and local taxes that can far exceed $10,000.The states claim that the cap on certain local and state deductions (commonly referred to as SALT deductions) is unconstitutional. They’re asking
In June, housing starts fell by 12 percent—a sign that prospective buyers are becoming more hesitant toward rising housing costs and shrinking inventory. SmartAsset, a finance company, has been tracking this trend and offers advice for buyers as it continues to evolve.Offer these tips for your buyer clients trying to break into what can be a challenging housing market: The market doesn’t dictate how much you can afford. The market may change
A smartphone that boasts a bendable screen is expected to hit the market early next year. Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest phone maker, reportedly plans to introduce its long-awaited foldable-screen smartphone in 2019, The Wall Street Journal reports. The screen can be folded in half, like a wallet.The prototype—known internally by its nickname, “Winner”—features a screen of about 7 inches, or about the size of a smaller t
The start of summer was sluggish for homebuilders. Homebuilding fell 12.3 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million units, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Wednesday. This marks the lowest level since September 2017 and the largest percentage drop in a month in nearly 2 years. Housing starts were down in all four major regions last month—by 40 percent in the Northeast and nearly 36 percent in the Midwest.Housing
Some cities faced with sluggish population growth are making an enticing offer to consumers: They’ll pay new residents—up to $10,000 in some cases—to make the city their new home. Such incentives are growing more common, according to a new report from Livability. The various metros are hoping to attract new residents to relocate and help them revitalize their economies.Cities are coming with abundant offers too, from paying off student loa
Apparently the magic number for first-time home buyers is 28. That’s the average age that most Americans think a person should be when they buy their own home, according to a new Bankrate.com report conducted last month among a sample of 1,001 respondents.This may be a bit optimistic in practice, at least for buyers in today’s market. The National Association of REALTORS®’ 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found the median age of
Buyer demand may be high but tight inventory is keeping that demand from translating into sales. And with fewer choices of homes for sale, some buyers are retreating. Mortgage applications fell again last week, dropping 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Total volume is now 12 percent lower than the same week a year ago.Home buyers were the ones who most receded from mortgage applicati
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