Sep 4, 2012 | Mortgage Rates
Mortgage markets improved last week for the second consecutive week.
With no news coming from Europe, Wall Street was focused U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s planned public speech from the Fed’s annual retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Rate shoppers and home buyers in Massachusetts caught a break.
The housing market was shown to be improving last week, as was the average household income nationwide — two events which would have typically moved Massachusetts mortgage rates higher. But, because the Fed Chairman used his speech to signal that new economic stimulus may be imminent, mortgage rates dropped.
The Fed is expected to launch a bond-buying program that would create new demand for mortgage-backed bonds. Mortgage-backed bonds are the basis for most U.S. mortgage rates and the new-found demand would result in lower rates nationwide. (more…)
Aug 31, 2012 | Mortgage Rates
After 4 weeks of rising costs, Worcester County area mortgage rates finally recede.
According to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate dropped 7 basis points to 3.59% this week. Depending on where you live, however, you may find that your offered mortgage rates varies. Freddie Mac’s “published rate” is a national average based on a survey of more 125 banks.
The rates you receive as an individual vary by bank, and vary by region.
Mortgage applicants in the North Central Region were most likely to get the lowest rates of all applicants nationwide last week. By contrast, applicants in the Southeast Region were most likely to get the highest rates. (more…)
Aug 30, 2012 | Housing Analysis
In July, the third time this year, the Pending Home Sales Index crossed its benchmark value of 100, moving to 101.7.
A “pending home sale” is a home under contract to sell, but not yet sold. Data for the index is collected by the National Association of REALTORS® and published monthly.
The rise in July’s Pending Home Sales Index reading is important for two reasons — both of which highlight a U.S. housing market in recovery. Buyer and sellers in Massachusetts and across the country would do well to pay attention.
First, the Pending Home Sales Index is at its highest point since April 2010, the last month of that year’s federal home buyer tax credit. (more…)
Aug 29, 2012 | Housing Analysis
The market for newly-built homes remains strong.
As reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, 372,000 new homes were sold in July on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis. A “new home” is a home that can be considered new construction.
July’s New Home Sales report highlights what today’s buyers of new construction and the nation’s home builders have witnessed for themselves already — that the market for newly-built homes is improving in Massachusetts and nationwide.
The number of new homes sold in July on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis matches the tally from May 2012, and is the highest reading since April 2010, the last month of that year’s federal home buyer tax credit. (more…)
Aug 28, 2012 | Housing Analysis
The housing market recovery appears to be sustainable.
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Home Price Index, home prices rose by a seasonally-adjusted 0.7 percent between May and June 2012. The index is now up 3.0% over the past 12 months, and made its biggest quarterly gain since 2005 last quarter.
The FHFA’s Home Price Index measures home price changes through successive home sales for homes whose mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and for which the property type is categorized as a “single-family residence”.
Condominiums, multi-unit homes and homes with jumbo mortgages, for example, are excluded from the Home Price Index, as are all-cash home sales. (more…)
