GSEs

“The housing market appears to be stuck heading into autumn, with sales activity likely to stay stagnant until housing inventory increases, and mortgage rates decline to more affordable levels,” said MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit. Click through to read more on this week's mortgage rates.

“When remote work is coupled with the reported rise in the importance of affordability, it's not surprising that respondents expressed a greater willingness to live farther from their current location,” noted a Fannie Mae report. “Of course, renters indicated the greatest affordability concerns, as well as a willingness to consider areas farther away from their current location.”

The MBA reports a 4.2% week-over-week slide in overall mortgage application volume, with apps for home purchase mortgages falling to levels last reported in April of 1995, as rates shot up to the 7.30% range.

Not since spring of 2002 have fixed-rate mortgages been as high as they were reported this week, and when combined with mortgage app volume sliding for the fourth straight week, affordability headwinds continue to impact housing demand.

“U.S. housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.452 million, which is 3.9% above the downward revised June estimate of 1.398 million and is 5.9% above the July 2022 rate of 1.371 million,” First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi said.

Matt Stepanovich of SingleSource Property Solutions discusses big data’s role in standardizing property valuations and the future of appraisal modernization.

Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater points out that "upward pressure on rates is the product of a resilient economy with low unemployment and strong wage growth, which historically has kept purchase demand solid.”

With mortgage rates surpassing the 7% mark, the MBA reports yet another dip in weekly purchase and refi apps as homebuyers struggle in the face of a depleted housing supply and elevated mortgage rates.

For a litany of reasons—including rising prices and inflation—most consumers surveyed believe that now is not a good time to purchase a home.

On the heels of Fitch Ratings downgrading the GSEs’ senior unsecured debt ratings to 'AA+' from 'AAA,’ Freddie Mac reports the fixed-rate mortgage climbed nine basis points week-over-week, inching closer to the 7%-mark.