Category Archives: housing market

Builder Sentiment Holds, Housing Starts Booming

The Mortgage Corner Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes was unchanged in March at a level of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).“Confidence levels are hovering above the 50-point mid-range, … Continue reading →

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We Need More Productive Investment

Financial FAQs Consumers’ financial health has substantially improved in 2015, according to the Fed’s 2015 Q4 Flow of Funds report, plus, their real wages are rising because of lower inflation. And since consumer income drives aggregate demand—the overall demand for … Continue reading →

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Consumer Finances Much Healthier

Financial FAQs Consumers’ financial health has substantially improved in 2015, and their net worth has now surpassed that of pre-recession 2006, according to the Fed’s 2015 Q4 Flow of Funds report. That is the main reason economic growth prospects have … Continue reading →

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Fannie-Freddie Debacle Continues

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of Obama Administration attempts to kill Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Government Sponsored Entities that guarantee more than 60 percent of all mortgages originated in the U.S. housing market these … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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