Redfin: Rising Demand, Falling Supply Driving Home Prices Up

07/13/2012 By: Tory Barringer 

Real estate broker Redfin released the June results of its Real-Time Home Price Tracker, showing home price increases in nearly all 19 major U.S. markets.

The tracker showed an average year-over-year price gain of 3 percent across all major markets and a monthly gain of 2.6 percent. Sales volumes also rose year-over-year (a 7.4 percent increase) but fell 1.1 percent month-over-month. Overall inventory levels declined, falling 25.3 percent from June 2011 and 2.4 percent from May this year.
The price data, combined with an earlier Redfin report that showed demand broadening, points to a strengthening market, said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. Kelman expects prices to continue to rise, but said he’s interested to see what happens next.

“Prices in June rose year over year for the second straight month, but the true test lies ahead,” said Kelman. “For the first time in five years, we’re seeing sellers enter the market to take advantage of rising demand, not just out of sheer necessity. We thus expect listing prices to increase, even as employment remains weak and Europe’s debt crisis continues. In competitive markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, buyers will likely rise to the bait. Elsewhere the market may falter.”
Out of the 19 markets served by Redfin, 16 showed annual price increases, with Phoenix posting the greatest gains (28.7 percent, the only double-digit year-over-year increase in all markets). Of the markets that posted decreases, Long Island suffered the most (a 4.4 percent drop). In month-over-month data, 16 markets showed price increases-Portland and California’s Inland Empire stayed flat, and Austin fell 0.1 percent.
Additionally, the tracker showed that homeowners who listed their homes sold very quickly, with all single-family homes listed in the first three weeks of June finding a buyer within two weeks of debut. The San Jose market actually saw 52.5 percent of homes selling within that short time frame.
While sales occurred quickly, the number of closings grew only modestly since last year, owing partly to lack of inventory. Closings of single-family homes increased 4.3 percent since last year. The biggest drops in sales volume were found in places where inventory was in shortest supply: Sacramento, San Jose, the Inland Empire, and Denver.

Weak Jobs Report Sends Mortgage Rates Tumbling Again

07/12/2012 By: Tory Barringer 

Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) showed average fixed mortgage rates finding yet another record low.

The 30-year fixed averaged 3.56 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending July 12, down from 3.62 percent the previous week. At the same time in 2011, the 30-year fixed averaged 4.51 percent. This week marks the 16th straight week that the 30-year average has stayed below 4 percent.
The 15-year fixed also fell, averaging 2.86 percent (0.7 point), a drop from 2.89 percent last week. A year ago, the 15-year fixed averaged 3.65 percent.

The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) also fell, averaging 2.74 percent with a 0.6 point (down from 2.79 percent the week before). The 1-year ARM inched up a bit, going up to 2.69 percent (from 2.68 percent a week ago).
Frank Nothaft, VP and chief economist at Freddie Mac, attributed the falling rates to easing Treasury bond yields following June’s disappointing jobs report.
“Following a lackluster employment report for June, long-term U.S. Treasury bond yields eased somewhat this week, allowing fixed mortgage rates to reach yet another record low,” said Nothaft. “Only 80,000 net new jobs were added to the economy last month, not enough to lower the unemployment rate from 8.2 percent. This was the concern of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting held June 19-20. Minutes released from that meeting on July 11 revealed that a few members felt further monetary stimulus was needed to promote satisfactory growth in employment to meet the Committee’s goal.”
Bankrate’s findings showed that the jumbo 30-year fixed fell to 4.44 percent, while the 15-year fixed drop to 3.05 percent-both record lows. The popular 5-year ARM also fell to a new record low of 2.95 percent.
“Between the European debt crisis and evidence of weaker economic growth both in the U.S. and around the globe, investors have had plenty to worry about,” a release from Bankrate read. “And when investors worry, they gravitate toward secure investments like U.S. government bonds, to which mortgage rates are pegged.”

June Sees Housing Confidence Boost in Spite of Economic Worries

07/09/2012 By: Tory Barringer 

Downturns in economic confidence hasn’t shaken consumers’ optimism in the housing market, Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey for June showed.

According to the survey, the average home price expectation rose to 2 percent in June, up 0.6 percent from May and the highest recorded value since the survey began two years ago. In addition, 35 percent of respondents expect that home prices will go up in the next year, the highest level recorded since the survey’s inception.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they think mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months, a drop of 4 percentage points from May. According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rates steadily fell through much of the year’s second quarter, reaching new lows week after week.

The combination of low rates and low home prices spurred a small boost of confidence in the housing market. The percentage of respondents who said it is a good time to buy a home increased slightly to 73 percent, while the percentage who said it is a good time to sell remained flat at 15 percent. Sixty-nine percent said they would buy if there were going to move, an increase of 6 percentage points from May’s survey and the highest level since the survey began.
This optimism grew in spite of faltering confidence in the economy. An upward trend of confidence in the economy saw a stall in June, with 36 percent of respondents saying they believe the economy is on a right track-a slight drop from April and May.
Forty-two percent of respondents said they expect their financial situation to stay the same over the next 12 months, a decrease of 4 percentage points. The number of those who expect their situation to get better steadied at 43 percent. Thirteen percent said they expect their situation to get worse, a slight increase from the last survey.
Finally, the survey found that household expenses remained stable, with 55 percent reporting that expenses stay about the same as they were a year ago. The number of respondents reporting a household income higher than it was a year ago fell 4 percentage points to 18 percent, while the percentage reporting a lower income stayed flat at 15 percent.
“While consumers remain cautious about the general economy, their attitudes toward the housing market continue to improve,” said Doug Duncan, SVP and chief economist of Fannie Mae. “Although this positive trend may be short-lived if the general economy falters, one might ask whether consumers are increasingly seeing the current environment as a unique opportunity to buy a home while home prices remain depressed, rental costs are increasing, and interest rates are near historic lows.”

Fixed Rates Reach Record-Low Averages for 6th Consecutive Week

06/07/2012 By: Esther Cho

As the employment situation continues to raise concerns, fixed rates fell even lower, slipping yet again to new record-lows, according to a survey from Freddie Mac released Thursday.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.67 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending June 7, falling from last week’s average of 3.75 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed was 4.49 percent.
The 15-year fixed rate declined even further below 3 percent to 2.94 percent (0.7 point), down from last week’s 2.97 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year was 3.68 percent.

“Fixed mortgage rates reached new record lows for the sixth consecutive week as long-term Treasury bond yields declined further following downwardly revised economic growth and job creation data,” said Frank Nothaft, VP and chief economist for Freddie Mac.
Nothaft cited recent reports showing gross domestic product rose only 1.9 percent in the first quarter as well as the disappointing 69,000 jobs added in May. In addition, the unemployment rate moved to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent the month before in April.
The 5-year ARM remained unchanged from last week at 2.84 percent (0.7 point); a year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.28 percent.
The 1-year ARM moved up to 2.79 percent (0.4 point), up from last week’s 2.75 percent. Last year, it averaged 2.95 percent.
Bankrate also released its survey on mortgage rates and reported record-low averages. The 30-year fixed slipped to 3.92 percent, down from last week when it averaged 3.94 percent. On the other hand, the 15-year fixed rose slightly to 3.16 percent from last week’s 3.15 percent.
The five-year fell to 2.99 percent from 3.01 percent last week.
Bankrate’s national survey uses data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 market

FHA 203(k) Program Offers Way to Finance Repairs for Foreclosures

06/06/2012 By: Esther Cho 

Purchasing foreclosures also means discounts, but with the markdown is the price of repairs. According to RealtyTrac, foreclosures or REOs sold at an average discount of 27 percent compared to non-distressed properties in the first quarter of 2012. Through an FHA 203(k) loan, potential buyers who want to purchase a discounted foreclosure but don’t have cash for the repairs may find a way to receive financing.

According to HUD, the 203(k) program is the department’s main program for rehabilitating and repairing single family properties, and it’s viewed as an important tool to revitalize neighborhoods.

In order to be eligible, the property must be purchased as a primary residence or it can be for a HUD approved nonprofit. Also, the property must be a one-to four-family residence that has been completed for at least one year.
Dan Green, loan officer with Waterstone Mortgage and author of themortgagereports.com, explained the FHA 203(k) program can be used on any 1-4 unit residential property and is not limited to just HUD properties or foreclosures.
The maximum amount that can be taken out for the property is based on the value or the purchase price of the property before rehabilitation (whichever is less), plus the estimated cost of rehabilitation or 110 percent of the property after improvements, according to HUD.
A down payment is required, and the minimal amount for a down payment is 3.5 percent of the accepted bid price plus the cost of financing repairs.
Since there is more “file” to underwrite for an FHA 203(k) loan, Green said the approval process takes longer than a standard FHA mortgage.
“FHA 203k approvals take more time, but are no more difficult than any other mortgage type,” said Green. “Borrowers should expect to provide the documentation required, and should respond to loan officer requests in a timely manner.”

Freddie Mac Announces Lower Modification Interest Rate

06/04/2012 By: Tory Barringer 

Freddie Mac announced Friday that starting July 1, the GSE’s Standard Modification interest rate will come down from 5 percent to 4.625 percent.

The Standard Modification is for borrowers who do not qualify for the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). The modification makes payments more affordable by lowering a borrower’s principal and interest payments by at least 10 percent. The modification includes a trial period as does HAMP to ensure borrowers can maintain modified mortgage payments.
When evaluating a borrower for a Standard Modification in Workout Prospector®, users will be prompted to apply the 4.625 percent interest rate if the “Workout Decision Date” is on or after June 1.
Servicers may implement the new interest rate sooner. However, new borrower evaluations done before July do not require the new rate.
Freddie Mac may adjust the interest rate used for Standard Modifications based on market conditions.
The Freddie Mac Standard Modification is part of the Servicing Alignment Initiative, which is an effort to create consistency in how delinquent GSE loans are serviced.

Freddie Mac: 15-Year Fixed Falls Below 3%, 30-Year Fixed Hits New Low

05/31/2012 By: Esther Cho 

Following lower bond yields, the 15-year fixed fell below 3 percent, while the 30-year fixed set a new record-low as well, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.75 percent (0.8 point) for the week ending May 31. Last week, it averaged 3.78 percent, and last year, it was 4.55 percent.
The 15-year fixed slid into new territory, averaging 2.97 percent (0.7 point), down from 3.04 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year fixed stood at 3.74 percent.

The 5-year ARM averaged 2.84 percent (0.6 point), up from last week’s average of 2.83 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.41 percent.
The 1-year ARM remained unchanged from last week at 2.75 percent (0.4 point). The previous year, it averaged 3.13 percent.
Frank Nothaft, VP and chief economist for Freddie Mac, pointed to market concerns over the Eurozone, which led to a decline in long-term Treasury bond yields, as one reason for the drop in fixed rates.
“Compared to a year ago, rates on 30-year fixed mortgage rates are almost 0.9 percentage points lower which translates into nearly $1,200 less in annual payments on a $200,000 loan,” said Nothaft.
Bankrate.com also reported record-lows for fixed rates.
The 30-year fixed dropped to a new low of 3.94 percent, down from 3.97 percent last week. The 15-year fixed averaged 3.15 percent, also a record low. Last week, it was 3.19 percent.
The 5-year ARM slipped from 3.02 percent last week to 3.01 percent this week.
Bankrate’s national weekly mortgage survey includes data from the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.