Contract Signings Spike Amid Summer Slowdown
A rising number of homes available for sale helped cool the housing market after a hot spring and early summer. It also helped home buyers find homes to buy. In fact, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors, the number of signed contracts to buy homes was 8.1 percent higher in August […]
Summer Housing Market Saw Record Setting Price Gains
Home prices have been increasing for more than just the past few months. The housing market has seen many significant price gains this year. But, according to newly released numbers from the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the increases seen this summer were widespread, consistent, and, in some cases, record setting. S&P’s index, which is […]
Homes Still Selling Quickly As Season Wraps Up
New numbers from the National Association of Realtors show that, even as the summer market looked to be slowing down, homes for sale were still selling quickly. In fact, the typical property was only on the market 17 days in August and 87 percent of homes sold during the month were available less than 30 […]
Home Affordability Conditions Key To Market’s Future
Each month, Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group releases a forecast detailing their outlook for the economy and housing market. According to their most recent release, the group sees some potential challenges ahead that may affect home buyers. Specifically, they believe buyer demand could begin to slow if affordability conditions worsen. Home Affordability Doug […]
How Many Bathrooms Do Buyers Want In A House?
The number of rooms a house has – and how they’re distributed – is even more important than the overall size of the home. A huge home that packs all the bedrooms and bathrooms into one cramped corner of the house may not serve its owners as well as a smaller house with a better […]
Early Fall May Be The Best Time To Buy
The best time to buy a house is when you’re ready. But, once you’re ready, picking the right time of year to start the process could be beneficial. It could even save you money. How? Well, when the market slows down and there are fewer active home buyers, price increases, bidding wars, and competition also […]
Any Increase in Home Buying Optimism: More Americans Say It’s A Good Time
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index is based on a monthly survey gauging Americans’ feelings about the housing market and overall economy. It asks respondents for their opinions about buying and selling a home, mortgage rates, home prices, their jobs and financial situation. In August, the index stayed the same as the month before. However, […]
Home Prices Increasing Almost Everywhere
There are many gauges of U.S. home prices but the S&P Case-Shiller Indices is among the most closely followed. The index accurately tracks the price path of a typical single-family home in each of the nine U.S. Census divisions. According to the most recent release, home prices are still increasing and the gains can be […]
Lenders See Shift in Mortgage Loan Demand
For most of the past year, average mortgage rates have hovered at, or just above, historic lows; increasing mortgage loan demand in general. Favorable rates helped home buyers at a time when prices and bidding wars were on the rise. But while low rates were good for buyers, they were also good for homeowners who […]
Active Home Listings Up 16% From This Year’s Low
For a prospective home buyer, the more homes there are for sale the better. After all, more active home listings means more choices and a better chance at finding the one that meets your needs. Lately, though, inventory has been an issue. A lower than normal number of homes for sale has led to price […]
