Tag Archives: Mortgage Rates

Five Texas metros topped the top 10 list of best places to purchase a home, according to a new study from WalletHub, which examined the strongest local real-estate markets throughout the U.S., as the housing market remains skewed toward home sellers rather than buyers.

“The steep decline in sales driven by the rapid rise in mortgage rates seems to be behind us, as the initial shock of higher mortgage rates has worn off,” said Mark Fleming, the Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation.

While HELOC activity surged in 2022, a new report from CoreLogic showed that demand slowed significantly in the first half of this year as Freddie Mac revealed the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached its highest level in over two decades.

Despite the increasing risks of flooding, heat waves, and hurricanes, Americans are still flocking to metros such as Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Tampa, which topped the list of most popular migration destinations in Redfin's latest report.

“Some buyers are hoping they can get a home for under asking price to make up for high interest rates because they’re hearing the housing market is slow. But what’s happening nationally isn’t necessarily true [locally],” said Kristin Sanchez, a Redfin Premier Agent.

“Prospective homebuyers continued to face challenging conditions in July, with elevated and volatile mortgage rates and low housing inventory serving as a formidable one-two punch that suppressed mortgage applications and sales activity,” said Edward Seiler, MBA’s Associate VP, Housing Economics, and Executive Director, Research Institute for Housing America.

As many Americans return to work, a new Realtor.com report showing the Hottest ZIP Codes of 2023 revealed homebuyer demand is being fueled in part by the desire for more commute-friendly locations and additional space.

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.

While the “if” and “when” of a recession remain uncertain, the Fannie Mae Economic and Strategic Research Group does forecast one to occur, expected to begin in the first half of 2024—despite increased chances of a “soft landing.”

While total housing inventory continues to inch forward, existing-home sales retreated in July in the face of mortgage rates sitting at 7.09%.