According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for February, month-to-month home prices increased by 0.50 percent from January’s reading and achieved the highest year-over-year gain in six months. Analysts expected February home prices to increase by 4.80 percent. David Blitzer, chairman of the S&P Dow Jones index committee, said that home prices continue to rise and outpace both inflation and wage gains. Although this is great news for homeowners, it also demonstrates the challenge of affordability for home buyers. Year-Over-Year Home Prices: Denver Leads in Home Price Gains … [Read more...]
S&P Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in 2015
According to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index report for January, home prices grew by 4.50 percent year-over-year as compared to January 2014's year-over-year price growth rate of 10.50 percent. This was the lowest rate of home price growth since 2012. Analysts said that although slower growth in home prices could be good news for home buyers, national wage growth is not keeping pace with home price growth. The Labor Department reports that wages are growing at an annual rate of approximately two percent. Other obstacles to home buyers include strict mortgage … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 1, 2014
Last week's scheduled economic events were packed into Tuesday and Wednesday, but several housing-related reports were released including the Case-Shiller National and 10-and 20-City Home Price Indices for September, The FHFA House Price Index also for September, and New and Pending Home Sales for October. Case-Shiller, FHFA Report Slower Growth in Home Prices According to Case-Shiller home price indices released Tuesday, the national rate of home price growth has slowed from August's year-over-year reading of 5.60 percent to September's reading of 4.90 percent. This was the lowest rate of … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 17, 2014
Last week's economic reports provided rays of light as compared to the recent slump in positive economic news. Unusually severe winter weather conditions affected housing-related indicators as home builders and home buyers stayed on the sidelines. With spring on the horizon, last week's economic news showed welcome signs of growth. Job Openings Up, New Jobless Claims Fall Employment is a major factor in the decision to buy a home; would-be home buyers received a vote of confidence last week as January's job openings increased by one million to 40 million as compared to December's reading of 39 … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 10, 2014
Last week's economic news included construction spending and the CoreLogic Home Price Index for January. Reports for February included ADP Employment, Non-Farm Payrolls and national unemployment data. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new unemployment claims rounded out the week's economic news. Highlights for last week include: Consumer spending gained 0.40 percent for January. The expected reading was 0.20 percent and the reading for December was flat. The Commerce Department reported that increased spending was less an indicator of … [Read more...]