Mortgage Rates

Housing news was boosted by the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, which posted its highest readings since July of 2002. In other news, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee voted to raise the federal funds rate and Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave a press conference. Mortgage rates rose and weekly jobless claims fell. Home Builder Confidence Highest in 14 Years, Home Construction Lags According to the National Association of Home Builders, builder confidence in housing market conditions reached its highest rate since 2002 in December. The NAHB Housing Market Index reading topped out at 70 as…

As 2017 winds down, analysts are forecasting economic developments for 2017. Forbes identified three indicators that the U.S. housing market has recovered. Mortgage rates rose again last week; jobless claims fell and consumer sentiment jumped rose five points. The details: Housing Market Recovery Complete: Forbes Three conditions were cited by Forbes as evidence that the housing market has recovered: Analysts said that homeowners are putting their homes on the market after years of waiting for home prices to peak. On the flip side, mortgage rates are expected to rise further and home buyers may be taking a "now or never"…

Last week's economic news was plentiful with releases on Case-Shiller Home Price Indices and pending home sales. Readings on government and private sector jobs created, the national unemployment rate and weekly readings on new jobless claims and Freddie Mac's mortgage rates survey were also released. Case-Shiller: Western Cities Dominate Home Price Growth Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index reported that Seattle Washington topped year-over-year home price growth with an increase of 11.00 percent. Portland, Oregon followed closely with a reading of 10.90 percent, and Denver Colorado held third place with year-over-year home price gains of 8.70 percent. San Francisco, California, which…

Last week's economic reports included new and pre-owned home sales, new jobless claims and Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rates survey. Home Sales Mixed in October According to the National Association of Realtors®, sales of previously owned homes reached a seasonally adjusted annual level of 5.60 million sales, which exceeded expectations and October's reading of 5.49 million sales. Analysts had expected a rate of 5.44 million sales. October sales of preowned homes rose 2 percent over September's reading and were 5.90 percent higher year-over-year. This was the highest reading for sales of pre-owned homes since February 2007. High demand for homes…

Last week's economic reports included readings on the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, Commerce Department releases on Housing Starts and Building Permits issued and weekly reports on new jobless claims and mortgage rates.   Builder Sentiment Holds Steady, Demand for Homes Pushes Builders November's reading for the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index held steady with a reading of 65. Any reading above 50 indicates that a majority of home builders surveyed has a positive view of current and future housing market conditions. Tight supplies of available homes, steep competition for homes in desirable metro…

Last week's economic news included readings on job openings, consumer sentiment and the Federal Reserve's monthly survey of senior loan officers. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Freddie Mac noted that last week's primary mortgage market survey did not include post-election readings as the survey information was gathered prior to election results. Loan Officers Survey: High Demand for Home Loans, Commercial Lenders Raise Standards As demand for mortgage financing and homes increase, the Federal Reserve reported last week that banks are tightening the screws on commercial lending requirements. This could present challenges to home…