Last week's economic releases included the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for May, Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Home Builder Confidence Rises in May According to the National Association of Home Builders, home builders surveyed indicated higher confidence in housing market conditions for May. April's reading was downwardly revised to an index reading of 68; analysts expected a reading of 69. May's home builder confidence reading was … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 7th, 2018
Last week's economic releases included readings on inflation, construction spending and private and public- sector payrolls. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also posted. Inflation Meets Fed Goal, Construction Spending Lower March inflation reached a year-over-year rate of two percent, which is the Federal Reserve's goal for inflation. Inflation rose by 0.20 percent in March to 0.40 percent; analysts expected inflation to rise 0.50 percent. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, met expectations with 0.20 percent growth. … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 30th, 2018
Last week’s economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, new and existing home sales and weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Case-Shiller: Home Prices Rise to Near Four-Year High February home prices rose 6.30 percent year-over-year and 0.50 percent month-to-month. Home prices rose just shy of a record set in 2014. The 20-City Home Price Index reported home prices were 6.80 percent higher year-over-year and rose 0.80 percent month-to-month in February. The year-over-year reading surpassed the peak reading in 2006. Home prices … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 23rd, 2018
Last week's economic reports included readings on builder confidence, housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Builder Confidence Drops by One Point The National Association of Home Builders reported that builder confidence dipped by one point in April to an index reading of 69. While any reading over 50 indicates positive builder sentiment, NAHB noted that builder sentiment has decreased for the past four months. During the housing bubble of 2004 and 2005, builder confidence in market conditions averaged 68, … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 26th, 2018
Last week's economic releases included readings on new and pre-owned home sales and the Federal Open Market Committee's customary post meeting statement. Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave his first press conference as Chair of the Federal Reserve and FOMC. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. February Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Exceed Expectations, New Home Sales Fall Short Sales of previously-owned homes exceeded expectations at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.54 million sales. Analysts expected a rate of 5.40 million sales based on … [Read more...]