Real estate blog entries tagged with rates by Ryan Magee1, Mortgage Banker (Bridgeview Bank)

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rates: Housing Analysis Says Many Markets Bottomed In 2009 - 04/03/12 03:37 AM

According to data released by Pro Teck Valuation Services, many housing markets across the country bottomed in 2009, despite industry analysts saying prices had further to fall. The data shows that many markets are already stabilizing or rebounding. Tom O’Grady, Pro Teck’s chief executive, said their data indicates that prices should be gradually increasing over the next few years, though the rate at which they increase will depend on the specifics of each individual market. The evaluation divided the number of non-distressed property sales by the total housing stock in each region as an indicator of future price performance. In addition, … (0 comments)

rates: Report Finds Foreclosure Inventory Falling - 03/30/12 01:04 AM

CoreLogic’s National Foreclosure Report provides monthly data on completed foreclosures, foreclosure inventory, and delinquencies over 90 days. In their February report, CoreLogic found that there are 1.4 million homes in the foreclosure inventory, which is down from 1.5 million in February 2011. But though foreclosure inventory and the pace of completed foreclosures held fairly steady from January, expectations of further declines in the foreclosure inventory are leading to optimism for the housing market’s immediate future. Mark Fleming, CoreLogic’s chief economist, said the pace of completed foreclosures compares favorably to year-ago levels and the overall foreclosure inventory is decreasing because REO sales were … (0 comments)

rates: Spring Selling Season May Be Best In Years - 03/29/12 02:52 AM

A number of factors have experts and industry insiders expecting a strong spring-selling season this year. Nearly half of all home sales happen during the months of April, May, June, and July and this year, with the economy and job market showing signs of growth, the sales season is expected to be better than it has been in years. Among the main reason spring and summer are good for home sales is weather. And, this year, mild weather has enveloped much of the country earlier than usual. For instance, the Midwest, which saw warmer than usual weather so far this year, … (1 comments)

rates: Demand For Purchase Loans Increases For Fifth Straight Week - 03/28/12 04:09 AM

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for home purchase loans increased again last week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index was up 3.3 percent from the week before and is up 2.14 percent over the past four weeks. But the growing volume of purchase loans comes at the same time as refinance activity has slowed. The Refinance Index fell last week due largely to a 12.0 percent drop in government refinance activity. Conventional refinance applications also slipped, though by just 3.4 percent. The Market Composite Index, which measures total mortgage loan application volume, was down 2.7 percent from the … (0 comments)

rates: Real Estate Pros Express Confidence In Market Recovery - 03/27/12 03:00 AM

The National Association of Realtors’ Confidence Index is based on a monthly survey sent out to 50,000 real-estate professionals assessing expectations for home sales, prices, and the overall market. February’s report finds confidence and expectations on the rise amid continued evidence of a slow and steady market recovery. Though responses didn’t indicate rapid market growth, participants reported an increasing number of buyers in the market, rising rent, and expectations of higher or, at least, constant home prices. The percentage of professionals indicating they expect prices to rise increased from 62 percent in December to 73 percent in the most recent report. … (0 comments)

rates: FHA to deny mortgage backing for credit disputes above $1,000 - 03/26/12 05:34 AM

Beginning April 1, potential borrowers with ongoing credit disputes totaling more than $1,000 will not be able to get a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
The rule marks a significant belt-tightening at the FHA whereas the adminstration earlier held no such requirement that disputed credit accounts needed to be paid off. Before this rule, a direct endorsement underwriter could determine if any of the borrower's outstanding debts should impact the approval of the FHA-backed mortgage.
After April 1, the borrower must either pay off the outstanding balance on these collections accounts or document a payment arrangement that the lender … (1 comments)

rates: Buy a house in Hudson, WI - Pending Home Sales Up 9.2 Percent From 2011 - 03/26/12 04:05 AM

According to the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index, contract signings were relatively flat in February, down 0.5 percent from January. But despite a slow month, pending home sales were 9.2 percent above February 2011. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said the spring home buying season looks bright due to elevated contract offers so far this year. According to Yun, if the level of current activity is sustained throughout the year, existing-home sales would reach their highest level in nearly five years. Regionally, the Midwest spiked 6.5 percent and is up nearly 20 percent over last year, though all other … (0 comments)

rates: Buy a house Hudson WI - New Home Sales Slip, Prices Hit Eight Month High - 03/23/12 02:40 AM

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Commerce’s New Residential Sales Report for Februaryshows sales of new homes fell 1.6 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 313,000. But though sales slipped from the month before, year-over-year sales were up 11.4 percent. Also in the report, the median price of new houses sold in February was $233,700. That’s 8.3 percent above January and the highest it’s been since last June. Compared to February 2011, the median price was up 6.2 percent. The estimated number of new homes for sale at the end of … (0 comments)

rates: Buy a house in Hudson, WI - Existing Home Sales Up 8.8 Percent From Last Year - 03/22/12 02:57 AM

Sales of previously owned homes fell 0.9 percent in February but remain 8.8 percent above a year ago. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales, which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.59 million down from the upwardly revised January number of 4.63 million. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said the market is trending up with record high consumer buying power and sustained job gains giving buyers the confidence to get into the market. The national median existing-home price was $156,600 in February, up 0.3 percent from a year … (0 comments)

rates: Buy a house - Housing Starts Dip, Building Permits Surge In February - 03/21/12 02:48 AM

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new residential construction statistics for February show housing starts down 1.1 percent from January but still nearly 35 percent above the year before. Despite the slight dip in new construction, building permits for future construction rose to their highest level since October 2008. Permits to build privately-owned housing units jumped 5.1 percent over January’s revised rate and are 34.3 percent above the February 2011 estimate. Single-family authorizations climbed 4.9 percent to a rate if 472,000, up from January’s figure of 450,000.
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rates: Buy a house in Hudson, WI - Survey Says Purchase Index Up 3.25 Percent - 03/21/12 02:45 AM

Mortgage rates increased last week but remain historically low, according tothe Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 4.19 percent last week from 4.06 percent the week before. The average rate for a jumbo loan increased to 4.49 percent. Rising rates led to a drop in overall mortgage application demand. The Market Composite Index, which measures total application volume, was down 7.4 percent. But despite a 9.3 percent drop in the Refinance Index, the Purchase Index fell just 1.0 percent and remains up 3.25 percent over the past month. The average … (0 comments)

rates: Housing Starts Dip, Building Permits Surge In February - 03/20/12 01:49 AM

rates: Buy a house Hudson, WI - Builder Confidence At Highest Level Since 2007 - 03/19/12 02:46 AM

Builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes is twice as strong as it was six months ago and at its highest level since 2007. The latest National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, which measures builders’ expectations and perceptions, was unchanged from last month. Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the NAHB, said builders are still cautious but there’s a sense that many local housing markets have started to move in the right direction and that prospects for future sales are improving. The component gauging builders expectations for sales over the next six months was up for the six consecutive month, … (0 comments)

rates: Improving Markets Index Reaches 99 In March - 03/16/12 01:45 AM

The National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Indexclimbed to 99 in March, up from 98 in February. The index, which measures improvement in housing permits, employment, and prices, now includes 33 states with at least one housing market on the list and 10 with four or more improving metropolitan markets represented. David Crowe, NAHB’s chief economist, said the bottom line is that roughly one quarter of all U.S. metropolitan areas are showing signs that their housing markets have turned the corner. San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Columbus, Ohio were all among the notable new additions … (1 comments)

rates: Buy a house - Foreclosures Fall Two Percent In February - 03/15/12 02:44 AM

RealtyTrac’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for February 2012 shows foreclosure filings, including scheduled auctions, default notices, and bank repossessions, fell 2.0 percent in February and were down 8.0 percent from the previous year. Despite the fact that foreclosures were down nationally, the 26 states with a judicial foreclosure process actually saw a slight increase in activity, while the 24 non-judicial states saw a 5.0 percent decrease. Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac, said February’s numbers indicate that the barriers that have been holding foreclosures back are removed and that should pave the way to a properly functioning foreclosure process.
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rates: Homebuilders See Signs Of A Strong Spring Selling Season - 03/14/12 06:02 AM

Barclays Capital recently upgraded their outlook on homebuilder stocks based on increased optimism in the housing market. Improvements in builder and consumer confidence, combined with economic growth and more favorable inventory levels, have homebuilders expecting a strong spring and summer for housing. Stephen Kim, an analyst with Barclays, says the spring selling season has arrived strongly enough to kick-start a positive feedback loop in housing for the first time since 2005. Barclays analysts expect 1 million housing starts by 2013 and gradual price increases over the next few years.
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rates: Buy a house in Hudson, WI - Purchase Demand Reaches Highest Level In Two Months - 03/14/12 06:00 AM

According to The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for loans to purchase homes reached its highest level since January 13 after rising 4.4 percent last week. It is the third consecutive week of improvements and puts purchase applications nearly 12 percent above where they were last month. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said the increase in purchase applications coincided with another strong job market report but applications remain essentially unchanged from last year’s levels. The Market Composite Index, which measures total mortgage loan application volume, was down 2.4 percent due to a dip in the Refinance … (0 comments)

rates: Continued Jobs Gains Offer More Hope For Housing - 03/12/12 04:04 AM

The economy added 227,000 jobs in February and surpassed economists’ expectations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment improved in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and mining. The official unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.3 percent. The gains make it seven-straight months with at least 100,000 jobs added, which is the longest streak since 2005. Continued improvement in the labor market, combined with high affordability and increasing consumer confidence, is key to a significant and sustained housing-market recovery.
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rates: Buy a house in Hudson, WI - Home Prices Rise Minus Distressed Sales - 03/09/12 01:13 AM

Sales of distressed properties, including short sales and REO transactions, put downward pressure on home prices. For this reason, CoreLogic’s Home Price Index measures values including and excluding distressed sales. In January, the index showed a month-over-month decline of 1.0 percent and a 3.1 percent slide from January 2011. But, when excluding distressed sales from the equation, home prices actually gained 0.7 percent from December and dropped less than one percent from the year before. CoreLogic’s price index measures increases and decreases in sales prices for the same homes over time rather than basing their data on all home sales.
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rates: Real Estate Hudson, WI - Americans Have Growing Confidence In Economy, Housing - 03/08/12 11:37 PM

Each month, Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey polls Americans to assess their attitudes toward homeownership, renting, mortgage rates, the economy, their personal finances, and overall consumer confidence. February’s survey found respondents’ attitudes stabilizing and more confident in the economy and housing market. Among the highlights, the number of participants who said the economy was on the right track increased 5 percent from January and has risen 19 percent since November. The percentage of people who say it’s on the wrong track dropped by 6 percent. Also, Americans expect home prices to rise approximately one percent in the next year and the number who … (1 comments)

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