By Douglas Katz I am back after an unintended week off, but some interesting things going on it the market now. I am also launching a new format, so I hope that you enjoy it. General Commentary Fed action this week resulted in another 0.25% to the Federal Funds Rate. This was much more muted …
By Douglas Katz – 1/20/23 Per Freddie Mac: As inflation continues to moderate, mortgage rates declined again this week. Rates are at their lowest level since September of last year, boosting both homebuyer demand and homebuilder sentiment. Declining rates are providing a much-needed boost to the housing market, but the supply of homes remains a …
By Douglas Katz – 01/13/23 From Freddie Mac: While mortgage rates have resumed their decline, the market remains hypersensitive to rate movements, with purchase demand experiencing large swings relative to small changes in rates. Over the last few weeks latent demand has been on display with buyers jumping in and out of the market as …
Mortgage Market Update – Rates Trending Downward but NO Guarantees for Future Moves Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 12/15/2022 From Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates continued their downward trajectory this week, as softer inflation data and a modest shift in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy reverberated through the economy. The good news for the housing market is that recent declines in rates have led to a stabilization in purchase demand. …
By Douglas Katz – 12/9/2022 From Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates decreased for the fourth consecutive week, due to increasing concerns over lackluster economic growth. Over the last four weeks, mortgage rates have declined three quarters of a point, the largest decline since 2008. While the decline in rates has been large, homebuyer sentiment remains low …
Mortgage Market Update – Downward Mortgage Rate Trend Continues Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 11/29/2022 The new official loan limits for classification of conforming loans is out and it is very generous. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) provided a great resource to see what the limits are throughout the nation as some areas have higher limits than others. Some considerations that this brings light. …
New 2023 Conforming Mortgage Loan Limits Released Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 11/18/2022 Per Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates tumbled this week due to incoming data that suggests inflation may have peaked. While the decline in mortgage rates is welcome news, there is still a long road ahead for the housing market. Inflation remains elevated, the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates …
Mortgage Market Update – Rates Dip on Optimism About Inflation Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 11/16/2022 Mortgage loan approval guidelines in the lending world are ever changing. Market conditions and risk tolerance of the lenders create an environment where home loan programs are at best tweaked and at worst radically changed to match competitiveness, the market and the lenders appetite. The hard part for lenders and …
Lending Standards are Tightening – What Can You Do? Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 11/10/2022 From Freddie Mac: As the housing market adjusts to rapidly tightening monetary policy, mortgage rates again surpassed seven percent. The housing market is the most interest-rate sensitive segment of the economy, and the impact rates have on homebuyers continues to evolve. Home sales have declined significantly and, as we approach …
Mortgage Market Update – Average Mortgage Rates Above 7% With An End Of Week Improvement Read More »
By Douglas Katz – 11/04/2022 From Freddie Mac Mortgage rates continue to hover around seven percent, as the dynamics of a once-hot housing market have faded considerably. Unsure buyers navigating an unpredictable landscape keeps demand declining while other potential buyers remain sidelined from an affordability standpoint. Yesterday’s interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve will …
Mortgage Market Update – Rates Tick Down But Housing Unaffected Read More »
