Category Archives: housing market

Construction Boosted By Public Works, Offices

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of the $1.1T budget agreement, and $305 STIRR Surface Transportation and Highway Trust Fund bill. Construction spending rose a strong 1.5 percent in January due to a surge in highway & … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inflation Is Bringing Back Higher Growth!

Popular Economics Weekly Consumer prices are on the rise and the Fed’s December rate hike doesn’t look misplaced at all, says Econoday. Year-on-year core prices (without food and energy prices) rose 1 tenth to plus 2.2 percent for the highest … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2016 Housing Update

The Mortgage Corner What should happen to U.S. housing in 2016, with interest rates at record lows and a healthy job market? Much will depend on population growth, and in particular the newest largest generation of all—the millennials, or Gen … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Job Openings and Hires At Record Levels

Popular Economics Weekly Job openings rose 5 percent to 5.6 million in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. So why are the financial markets worrying about a looming recession? That reading was the second-highest ever recorded, behind only July 2015, … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Are Mortgage Rates At Historical Lows?

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage rates continued to tumble over the past week as investors fled to the safety of government bonds, pushing Treasury yields down, mortgage provider Freddie Mac said Thursday. This is no surprise given the geopolitical uncertainties buffeting … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Higher Employment = More New Homes

The Mortgage Corner Twenty Five states had lower unemployment, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the economic recovery continues. That is probably why consumers continue to be optimistic and housing prices continue to soar—as high as 11 percent in … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

High Builder Confidence Signals More Affordable Housing In 2016

The Mortgage Corner Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes held steady at 60 in January from a downwardly revised December reading of 60 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Any number above … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Housing Creating More Jobs In 2016

The Mortgage Corner We see housing in 2016 continuing to grow the economy. This is mainly because new-home construction should surpass 1 million units again this year, and it is new-home construction (and sales), rather than existing-home sales that adds … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can Economy Grow With Higher Interest Rates?

Financial FAQs The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee announced it is raising short term interest rates by ¼ percent. But can this economy continue to grow with higher interest rates, as Fed Chairwoman Yellen has promised? That depends on several … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Housing Starts Surge, Millennials Are Buying

The Mortgage Corner The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee has just announced it is raising short term interest rates by ¼ percent. Its press release said: “Given the economic outlook, and recognizing the time it takes for policy actions to … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment