What’s happening with mortgage rates, now and in the future? Part 2
What’s happening with mortgage rates, now and in the future? Rising mortgage rates are no doubt one of the biggest factors impacting the housing market right now. But it’s important to remind your clients that the low rates of the last few years were an anomaly. As...
The market has shifted, and that’s a good thing.
IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY, PEOPLE FOLLOW THE CERTAIN – top five housing market questions Over the next 5 days we will post the top 5 questions everyone is asking. Question one: Is the housing market going to crash? Answer: Headlines right now scare consumers that the...
3 Tips for Buying a Home Today
3 Tips for Buying a Home Today If you put off your home search at any point over the past two years, you may want to consider picking it back up based on today’s housing market conditions. Recent data shows the supply of homes for sale is increasing, giving buyers...
Planning To Retire? Your Equity Can Help You Reach Your Goal.
Planning To Retire? Your Equity Can Help You Reach Your Goal. Whether you’ve just retired or you’re thinking about retirement, you may be considering your options and trying to picture a whole new stage of your life. And you’re not alone. Research from the Retirement...
Existing-home sales rose slightly during February after two consecutive months of regression.
Total existing-home sales increased by 3 percent last month to a seasonally-adjusted average of 5.54 million, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales are up 1.1 percent from a year ago.
Buyer demand remains strong thanks to a healthy economy spurred by job growth and wage increases. While inventory levels are still low, they took a step in the right direction last month. Total housing inventory increased by 4.6 percent in February to 1.59 million existing homes for sale, per the NAR. However, inventory levels are down 8.1 percent compared to last year and has fallen year-over-year for 33 straight months.
Properties remained on the market for an average of 37 days last month and 46 percent of homes sold in February were listed for less than a month, per the NAR.
Housing affordability is becoming a concern as median existing-home prices continue to rise. The median existing-home price was $241,700 in February, an increase of 5.9 percent compared to February 2017.
Mortgage rates are also rising in tandem with home prices. The average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional fixed-rate mortgage increased for the fifth straight month to 4.33 percent in February. That’s the highest rate since April 2014, when it was 4.34 percent.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun believes supply must start catching up to demand soon to balance the market.
“Mortgage rates are at their highest level in nearly four years, at a time when home prices are still climbing at double the pace of wage growth,” Yun said. “Homes for sale are going under contract a week faster than a year ago, which is quite remarkable given weakening affordability conditions and extremely tight supply.
To fully satisfy demand, most markets right now need a substantial increase in new listings.”
Yun believes unseasonably cold weather played a role in muting sales last month, particularly in the Northeast and the Midwest. Mother Nature could impact home sales in March as the Northeast braces for the fourth winter storm to cripple the region in roughly three weeks.