Mortgage rates are bouncing back, and homebuyers don’t like it

As rates on conventional mortgages head back above 7 percent, homebuyer demand for purchase loans is wilting, with applications dropping for a third week in a row last week, according to an MBA survey. Continue reading

Consumer disconnect: Good time to sell means it’s a bad time to buy

Fannie Mae survey finds 67 percent of Americans agree that it’s a good time to sell, the highest level in nearly 2 years. But only 20 percent say it’s a good time to buy. Continue reading

Steep home-price growth hampers February pending sales

Rising home prices and mortgage rates stifled pending home sales in February, according to the National Association of Realtors on Thursday. The Pending Home Sales Index, which is a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, was 75.6 in Febr… Continue reading

Fed’s ‘higher for longer’ gambit may yet cool home price gains

Fannie Mae and MBA economists are now in agreement that mortgage rates will come down only gradually this year and next but that home price appreciation will slow. Continue reading

Homeseller sentiment is lukewarm as spring homebuying ramps up

Elevated mortgage rates and home prices have made sellers leery about listing this spring. As a result, 50 percent of homesellers said they’ll be aligning their sales with a late-year rate drop. Continue reading

Biden set to propose $5K tax credit for first-time buyers

The President will reveal a set of new housing initiatives during the State of the Union address on Thursday that will include a tax credit of $5,000 per year for two years to first-time homebuyers and a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to househol… Continue reading

Scarce inventory, falling rates could boost home prices

In December, a Pulsenomics panel of more than 100 housing experts expected homes to appreciate by 2.4 percent in 2024. Now they’re predicting prices will go up by 3.8 percent. Continue reading

Warren Buffett: ‘You want a bad number’ to get good market news

In 2010, the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. CEO said that fewer housing starts can help lay the foundation for a more balanced market down the line. His own company’s recent investments in home builders show commitment to that principle. Continue reading

Gary Keller says ‘right now, real estate is in a recession’

The real estate industry took a beating in 2023 — rising mortgage rates froze home sales, consumer sentiment slid to new lows, several landmark lawsuits threatened buyer-broker commissions, and the National Association of Realtors couldn’t keep itself … Continue reading