Blog
Home Price Evaluation Sees National Values Increasing
The results of Clear Capital's most recent home price forecast calls for national values to rise slightly over the next three months and to end the year with a growth rate of 1.2 percent. According to their data, home prices were down 1.4 percent year-over-year in...
Building Permits Up 4.5 Percent In March
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's New Residential Construction report for March shows permits to build privately-owned housing units rose 4.5 percent in March. Permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 747,000,...
Builder Confidence Slips For First Time In Seven Months
According to the National Association of Home Builders' Housing Market Index, builder confidence slipped three points to 25 in April, the first decline after seven consecutive months of gains. The index measures builders' perception of the market for newly built,...
Americans Expect Rising Prices, Say It’s Time To Buy
Fannie Mae's March 2012 National Housing Survey finds Americans more confident in their financial situation and more optimistic about the housing market than in previous months. According to the monthly survey, 73 percent of respondents say now is a good time to buy a...
Mortgage Rates Fall To Lowest Level In A Month
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since March 9 last week. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 4.10 percent from 4.16 percent the week...
Improving Markets Index Hits 101 In April
The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index identifies metropolitan areas that have seen growth in housing permits, employment, and home prices for at least six straight months. In April, the index hit 101 moving up two from the...
Gov’t Scorecard Finds 2012 Off To A Strong Start
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released their March housing scorecard,which compiles key housing market data and the results of the government's recovery efforts. And though the report still finds fragility...
Rising Rents Make Buying A Better Deal
This year's selling season comes with an added dose of optimism due, in part, to the increasing cost of renting a home or apartment. A survey by research firm Reis, found the average apartment's rent rose 2.7 percent last year and, in some markets, was up more than...
Outlook Forecasts Economic Growth, Housing Recovery
Improvements in the labor market and overall economy have led to optimistic forecasts for the housing market in 2012. In their latest Economic and Housing Market Outlook report, Freddie Mac sees an awakened economy spurring housing forward after years of somewhat...
Refinance And Purchase Activity Increase As Rates Drop
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, total mortgage application volume picked up 4.8 percent last week from the week before. The jump in demand was fueled by a 7.2 percent surge in the Purchase Index and a 4.0 percent spike in...