Inflation Hits a 40 Year High!
Consumer inflation reached a 40-year high and Fed members made headlines in response. Jobless Claims continue to move in the right direction.
Don't Miss Out on Tax Season!
There are several types of tax exemptions you may receive when you own a home. Find out which in this blog.
Factors of a Credit Score
Purchasing a home is a big investment. Therefore, lenders want to make sure you’ll be able to pay it back on time, and your credit score is one of the most important indicators of this.
Mortgage Rates are Certainly Climbing
Mortgage rates are certainly climbing up this week, due in part to the Feds easing up on buying mortgage-backed securities, the inflationary jitters that could drive a recession, and, of course, the pandemic.
2021 Quick Review - 2022 What's Ahead
Bidding wars, skyrocketing home values, and low rates made it a year unlike any other for homeowners and buyers: Inventory fell to record-setting lows, with far fewer homes for sale than buyers wanted. The resulting bidding wars created record-setting price increases, too.
How Your Taxes Can Work For Your Home Loan!
It's that time of year again, the beginning of Tax Season 2022! If you're expecting a sizeable refund this year, there are three easy ways you can use it to strategize your perfect home loan!
What's in a Mortgage Payment?
You may have heard the term PITI regarding the breakdown of a total monthly mortgage payment. Lenders look at an entire PITI payment, not just principal and interest when determining how much a buyer may qualify for.
Housing Markets Seasonal Pricing
It's fact; housing markets are inherently local, with seasonal pricing and sales volume patterns that repeat every year, especially in colder-weather markets. That pattern is evident when we look at single-family home sales volumes for the five years prior to 2020
Claims Hit Their Lowest Level Since 1969
Inflation, home prices, and rents are all on the rise, while Initial Jobless Claims hit their lowest level since 1969.
Week of November 29, 2021 in Review
There were some mixed messages regarding November job creations while home prices continued to rise in October. Plus, the new Omicron COVID variant and Fed chatter regarding inflation led to volatility in the markets.
GREAT NEWS FOR OUR FHA HOME BUYERS
The Federal Housing Agency (FHA) has just increased the amount of money that can be borrowed through its mortgage programs by more than $64k in most areas. In high-cost locations, the increase is even greater. New limits will take effect in 2022.
2022 HOME LOAN LIMIT INCREASE
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) just raised their conforming loan limit for 2022 by 18% to a maximum amount of $647,200 with high-cost areas being $970,800.
Inflations Impact on Mortgage Bonds and Rates
A full serving of news on inflation, housing, and the economy was reported ahead of Thanksgiving, with plenty of headlines for the markets to feast on.
Housing Units Planned But Not Started
The high demand for homes around the country has helped homebuilders remain confident, despite ongoing supply, labor, and lot shortages. Meanwhile, rents continue to rise.
Current Inflation Matters for Mortgage Bonds and the Home Loan Rates
Fall has ushered in cooler temperatures and hotter inflation, which is having an impact on households around the country and confidence among small business owners.
Zillow Stops Home Buying Business Drops 25%
Zillow mentioned this week they will be exiting buying and flips of homes, (started in December 2019) eliminating 25% of its workforce.
Headlines on Job Creation, Home Price, & The Fed’s Taper
The first week of November was filled with headlines on job creations, home price appreciation, and the Fed’s taper announcement. Economists were anticipating 450,000 job creations in October, but job growth beat expectations last month per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reported 531,000 new jobs.
What Does the Data Really Mean?
Sales of new homes surged in September, rising 14% from August at an 800,000 annualized pace. This was stronger than expectations and the highest reading since March. However, on an annual basis, sales were 18% lower when compared to September of last year – but there is more to this story as noted below. Meanwhile, Pending Home Sales, which measure signed contracts on existing homes, fell 2.3% in September after an 8% gain in August.
Sales of Existing Homes Rebound in September
Demand for homes and builder confidence remains strong, despite low inventory and ongoing supply chain issues. Initial Jobless Claims hit another important milestone, while the Fed revised an important forecast. Builder confidence rose at the highest monthly pace since last November, per the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index.
MBS Roadsigns 10-18-21
After the markets were closed Monday for Columbus Day, inflation data, employment news and the Fed minutes made plenty of headlines. Consumer inflation rose by 0.4% in September, in line with expectations, per the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The year-over-year reading increased from 5.3% to 5.4%. Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.2%, which was in line with expectations. On a year-over-year basis, Core CPI remained at 4%.