The Washington Post reports the number of adults sharing households spiked 11.4 percent from 2007 to 2010, representing an increase from 17 percent to 18.7 percent of all U.S. households, reversing the empty- nester trend. According to the Census Bureau, during that period the number of young adults living in […]
Household Formation Decline Lowers Demand for Household Goods Read More
MarketWatch says according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) sales of existing homes fell 1.5 percent in May because fewer inexpensive homes sold. The seasonally annual- adjusted rate (SAAR) of sales for the month hit 4.55 million, a drop from 4.62 million in April. Although sales were up 9.6
Existing Home Sales Edge Lower Read More
CNNMoney reports the Census Bureau says building permit applications for new homes rose to an annual rate of 780,000 in May, the highest rate since Sept. 2008, reflecting the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey of builder confidence which hit its highest mark since 2007, as we reported here
Rising Building Permits Bode Well Read More
NationalMortgageNews reports the Census Bureau released figures stating single-family housing starts rose 3.2 percent in May to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 516,000, above the saar of 500,000 for April. This marks the third consecutive monthly increase. Single-family starts are up 26% overall from a year ago. Meanwhile, multi-family starts,
Single-family Starts Rise in May Read More
Because so much of the net worth of middle-class Americans is connected to home equity, the housing downturn led to household net worth falling from $102,844 in 2005 to $66,740 in 2010, as house prices have fallen 35% below their peak in 2006, according to Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index. While
Middle-class Americans Net Worth Falls Read More
MHProNews has learned from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) their Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) reports builder confidence in the market for new, single-family homes rose one point in June, to 29, the highest level attained since May of 2007. Based on a 25 year-old survey, the
Home Builders Confidence Inches Up Read More
RealtyTrac tells NationalMortgageNews foreclosure filings for May 2012 numbered 205,900, the highest rate in three months, a rise of nine percent from April, but four percent lower than May 2011. Default notices and scheduled auctions increased to 109,000 in May, a 12 percent increase over April and 16 percent more
Foreclosure Floodgates Opening? Read More
Bloomberg News says following the burst of the housing bubble that put almost 25 percent of U. S. mortgages underwater, home equity in the first quarter rose to $6.7 trillion, its highest level since 2008, as homeowners refinanced their mortgages in droves, the biggest jump, percentage wise, in 60 years.
Refis Reduce Mortgage Term Read More
Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies says the $2.8 trillion rise in household wealth last quarter, state revenues expecting to exceed pre-recession levels of five years ago, and the nation’s service sector continuing to grow all trump the static unemployment rate and Europe’s debt crisis, and indicate an economy
Think Tank Thinks Up Read More
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says the low interest rates led to mortgage applications climbing by 18 percent on a sequential basis for the week ending June 8, 2012, according to NationalMortgageNews, a rate not seen since April 2009. MHProNews.com has learned the increase is seasonally adjusted. Although refinancings accounted for
Mortgage Applications Spike Read More
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) states the number of metropolitan areas displaying sustained and measurable improvement for at least six straight months fell from 100 in May to 80 this month. Of the 100, 52 remain on the list, and the 28 added
Improving Markets Index Falls Read More
EmergingMoney tells MHProNews.com the result of falling oil prices is cheaper financing and less expensive materials, which helps the global real estate market. Lower priced oil means: Lower transportation costs for material shipments and commuters; generally lower rate of inflation which helps keep interest rates down; lower costs of home
Falling Crude = Real Estate Recovery Read More
Moody’s Analytics says in HousingWire stagnant income growth and lack of adequate down payment is driving rental demand higher, with rents increasing five percent in the larger metropolitan markets, and climbing. Multifamily properties of five or more units saw vacancies fall from 12.5 percent at the start of 2010 to
Rental Market Growing Read More
ModularHomeCoach reports the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instituted a program through its Rural Development Housing division to lower interest rates and monthly payments for thousands of borrowers who have loans made or backed by the USDA. The pilot program, designed to improve the housing market, is being
USDA Offering Refinancing to Homeowners Read More
Core Logic tells MHProNews.com the reason the supply of homes dropped from a nine month average last June to 6.5 months April 2012 is because there are 11 million borrowers underwater who are unable to unload their homes, which restricts supply and increases the price of existing homes for sale.
Underwater Mortgages Drive Prices Read More
TheGlobeandMail in Toronto says a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) last year revealed 20 percent of homebuyers in the U.S. are single women. In Canada more than 15 percent of the homebuyers in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland are women, about the same percentage as couples without children,
Single Women Buying Up the Land Read More
Writing in NationalMortgageNews, Paul Muolo says some industry officials are suggesting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) exclude Fannie Mae, Freddie, Mac and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loans from its loan origination compensation proposals. MHProNews.com has learned the National Association of Independent Housing Professionals says: “As an alternative to the
CFPB to Exclude GSEs from LO Comp? Read More
A Los Angeles architecture and interior design family business is recycling classroom trailers into low-cost but chic modular homes. According to the LATimes, research+recycle can seam two of the units that measure 24 feet by 40 feet together or reconfigure the individual units, as well as raise the ceilings 15
Classroom to Classy Home Read More
According to a Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) survey, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.87%, the lowest rate since MBA started the survey, while the 30-year fixed-rate jumbo loan (greater than $417,500) fell to 4.13%, also the lowest in the survey’s history. Meanwhile, says NationalMortgageNews, applications to refinance loans
Low Interest Rate Spurs Interest Read More
The National Association of Home Builders showed up 700 strong on Capitol Hill Wed., June 6, 2012, to implore Congress to get the homebuilding industry back on track. Specifically, builders asked for the restoration of credit flow for new housing production; the reform of GSEs to ensure a federal backstop
NAHB Converges on Congress Read More
