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Weekly Market Update

By
Mortgage and Lending with Peoples Home Loans NMLS 13530

 

 

 

                                                             Keeping you updated on the market!
                                                          
For the week of

                                                                
November 1, 2010


MARKET RECAP

Were we smart or lucky? We'd like to think smart, but we won't discount luck either. We are speaking of the housing sales trend that unfolded after the tax credits expired at the end of April. We noted back in May that we expected sales to dip post-tax credits, and they did. We also noted that we expected sales to rebound once the market became acclimated to standing on its own feet, and that appears to be occurring.

Indeed, sales of existing-homes strengthened across all categories to jump 10 percent in September to 4.53 million annualized units, while sales of new homes rose 6.6 percent to a 307,000 annualized rate. The surge in sales helped push supply down to 10.7 months for existing homes and down to eight months for new homes.

The obvious question is how much discounting was required to stimulate sales? It appears some discounting occurred, when holding sales composition firm. The national median price for existing homes fell 3.3 percent to $171,700, with the average price falling 3.5 percent to $218,200. Meanwhile, the median price for new homes rose 1.5 percent to $223,800, with the average price dropping 1.2 percent to $257,500.

We've been vocal in our belief that home prices have stabilized. We stand by that sentiment, even though we wouldn't be surprised to see some price volatility over the next month or two, thanks to the brouhaha over the foreclosure processes of the large banks and the expectation that foreclosures could swell into 2011.

That said, it's important to remember that the housing market is much more orderly and stable than it was a year ago. All the malinvestment and all the excesses of yesteryear have percolated to the surface. We know what we are dealing with, which means foreclosures will certainly be handled in manner that won't be too disruptive to the market. After all, the people selling foreclosed houses still want to sell at the highest price possible; the highest price possible isn't achieved by flooding the market with inventory.

As for the foreclosure-servicing issues, the NAR warned that a single related court order could take 20 percent of the homes off the market. We're somewhat circumspect. To be sure, an unfavorable court order could happen, but the pressure is great for it not to. If we were to balance the odds on a scale, we think the scale favors it not occurring.

As for balancing lower or higher mortgage rates, we side with higher. That's not just our opinion. Bill Gross, a highly respected bond manager at PIMCO, noted this past week that a Fed announcement on additional monetary easing “will likely signify the end of a great 30-year bull market in bonds.” In other words, Gross expects bond prices to fall and interest rates to rise, which would translate into higher mortgage rates.

 

Economic
Indicator

Release
Date and Time

Consensus
Estimate

Analysis

Personal Income
& Outlays
(September)

Mon., Nov. 1,
8:30 am et

Income: 0.3% (Income)
Outlays: 0.4
(Increase)

Important. The PI & O report suggests labor markets have improved over the past month.

Construction Spending
(September)

Mon., Nov. 1,
10:00 am et

0.5%
(Decrease)

Important. Residential spending remains weak, but recent good news is encouraging.

Mortgage Applications

Wed., Nov 3,
7:00 am et

None

Important. Purchase applications are displaying positive momentum.

Factory Orders
(September)

Wed., Nov 3,
10:00 am et

0.6%
(Increase)

Moderately Important. Business activity continues to pace the economic recovery

Federal Reserve FOMC Meeting

Wed., Nov 3,
2:15 pm et

Federal Funds Rate:
0.0% to 0.25%

Very Important. A Fed announcement on quantitative easing will get interest rates moving.

Pending Home
Sales Index
(September)

Fri., Nov. 5,
8:30 am et

85.2 Index

Important. Evidence is building that the housing recovery is sustainable.

Employment
Situation
(October)

Fri., Nov. 5,
8:30 am et

Unemployment Rate: 9.6%
Payrolls: 65,000 (Increase)

Very Important. Recent trends in unemployment benefits could portend a better-than-expected employment situation.

 

Let's Get On With It

The time for waiting has ended. Confidence will return; that is, if it hasn't already returned. Merrill Lynch reported on Bloomberg this past week that Americans – at least those with a few dollars to invest – are feeling more financially secure today than they were a year ago. Merrill surveyed 1,000 people with investable assets of at least $250,000 and found that 78 percent of those surveyed are confident their economic circumstances will improve in 2011.

For everyone else, confidence is within reach. Claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly dropped last week to a three-month low, an optimistic indicator that the U.S. labor market is on the mend. What's more, the total number of people receiving unemployment insurance dropped to a two-year low. Meanwhile, consumer spending – a direct measure of consumer confidence – continues to move higher, and could give employers reason to add workers ahead of the holiday shopping season.

We think this latest slate of good news portends a robust economy for the new year, which is why we think the opportunity to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates and low housing prices is dwindling for this year.

 

Posted by

Michael Dutra

Regional Sales Manager

Peoples Home Loans

Phone: (508) 372-9176

Cell: (401) 486-6894

Email: Mike@TeamDutra.com

Website: www.TeamDutra.com 

 

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NMLS 13530

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