Rising mortgage rates taking a big bite out of homebuyer demand

Applications for purchase loans plummeted by a seasonally adjusted 10 percent last week, according to a survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Continue reading

Many hoped a March rate cut would boost housing. Now, it’s not so clear

Most real estate professionals believe rate cuts by the Fed will be crucial for a sales recovery, according to results from the Inman Intel Index survey. But the timing on those cuts is hazy. Continue reading

Demand for purchase mortgages drops for 3rd week in a row

Lender survey shows applications from homebuyers is down 12 percent from a year ago, as mortgage rates continue to rebound from December lows on stubborn inflation data. Continue reading

Fed policymakers want more data, dash hopes of March rate cut

Fed Chair Jerome Powell says a rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting is not “the base case,” with policymakers wanting to see more data showing inflation is on a sustainable path down to 2 percent. Continue reading

Purchase loan applications soar 9% following drop in mortgage rates

Trend could bode well for the spring homebuying season, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday, but Fed may take its time before cutting rates. Continue reading

Jump in key inflation gauge may delay mortgage rate relief

Futures markets still hold out hope for a March rate cut, even as annual inflation increased to 3.4 percent in December, moving away from the Fed’s 2 percent goal for the first time since September. Continue reading

Mortgage rates are in free fall as economy continues to cool

While Fed policymakers had forecast three rate cuts next year, futures markets now see an 85 percent chance of at least six rate cuts after a key inflation metric shows the economy is cooling rapidly. Continue reading

Lower mortgage rates failed to spur homebuyers into action last week

Demand for purchase loans has picked up in five of the past seven weeks as mortgage rates continue a dramatic retreat from October highs on expectations of Fed rate cuts. Continue reading

Fannie Mae, MBA economists still expect mild 2024 recession

The good news for real estate pros is that closely watched forecasts agree home sales will bottom in Q4 2023, and mortgage rates are looking ready to come down significantly next year. Continue reading