Location, location, location? Price eclipses previous buyer priority

Fifty-six percent of consumers surveyed by Coldwell Banker said that price is the most important factor for them when choosing a home, compared to 50 percent who said location was most important, casting doubt on the seasoned advice that location is ev… Continue reading

Mortgage rates ease for 2nd consecutive day on inflation data

The Federal Reserve’s moves to trim $35 billion in mortgages from its balance sheet each month could keep mortgage rates from falling dramatically this year. Continue reading

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