Data

After months of solid gains with the administration touting that the labor market is at its healthiest level since the turn of the century, payroll employment increases for March fell well short of expectations with just 126,000 jobs added, according to data released the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

In a report to be released Friday titled "Analysis and Study of CFPB Consumer Complaint Data Related to Mortgage Servicing Activities,” Black Knight Financial Services (BKFS) and the Five Star Institute (FSI) seek to provide context and insight to complaints received by the CFPB by comparing the CFPB's two predominant mortgage complaint categories, servicing and default, with loan trends. The report includes publicly available data from both the CFPB and mortgage servicers, as reported from the CFPB database

According to data, none of the housing markets in the nation’s largest 40 metros are in negative territory, and only six of them are even neutral. The healthiest housing markets in the nation are in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. Only two metros in the nation are in negative territory (Bismarck, North Dakota and Atlantic City, New Jersey), and even these are nearly in the neutral zone.

An NAHB survey of single-family home builders revealed that nearly 25 percent of builders installed alternative energy-producing equipment in new construction. This includes geothermal heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. The current 30-percent tax credit available for homeowners who install this equipment is set to expire at the end of 2016, which makes this a good time for interested buyers to consider purchases.

Based on the latest Google Trends data and updated housing market data tracked by Auction.com – which together indicate a shift in March home sales – the adjusted Auction.com Nowcast projections are slightly higher than those released on March 24. The original nowcast called for a range between 4.83 and 5.12 million, with a targeted number of 4.97 million.

Average production volume was $417 million per company in the fourth quarter of 2014, down from $437 million per company in the third quarter of 2014, but up from $367 million per company in the fourth quarter of 2013. The volume by count per company averaged 1,769 loans in the fourth quarter of 2014, down from 1,901 loans in the third quarter of 2014 but up from 1,641 loans in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Both the 10-City and 20-City composites saw gains in January compared to December. The 10-City composite gained 4.4 percent, up from 4.3 percent seen in December. Data released today for January 2015 show that home prices continued their rise across the country over the last 12 months. However, monthly data reveal slowing increases and seasonal weakness.

The Pending Home Sales Index rose 3.1 percent to 106.9 in February from a slight downward revision of 103.7 in January and is 12 percent about the February 2014 number of 95.4. The index is at its highest level since June 2013 and has increased year-over-year for six consecutive months and is above 100, considered an average level of activity, for the tenth consecutive month.

Affordability is worst in fast growing cities that have fallen behind in building homes to keep up with population growth. Currently the average U.S. homebuyer can expect to spend 15.3 percent of their monthly income on a mortgage payment.

U.S. home prices had a slight 0.1 percent increase from December 2014 to January 2015. However, prices are up over 20 percent from 2012, but still down 10 percent from the 2006 peak. The current national home price value is $241,000.