Tag Archives: mortgage applications

Will Housing Now Lead the Recovery?

The Mortgage Corner There is still hope that housing may help this economic recovery, as it has in past recoveries. But that is only if Fed Chairman Janet Yellen succeeds in keeping interest rates—mortgage rates in particular—at their current low, … Continue reading

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New-Home Sales Answer to RE Recovery?

The Mortgage Corner Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000. This is 2.8 percent above the revised February estimate of 920,000, but is 5.9 percent below the March 2013 rate of 1,005,000. Single-family … Continue reading

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2014 Mortgage Volumes (and Delinquencies) Lower

The Mortgage Corner It looks like the housing market still has to play catch up in 2014. Both mortgage volume and existing-home sales have declined drastically. But new-home sales and housing construction have picked up, even with the Polar weather, … Continue reading

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Existing-Home Sales Slow in January

The Mortgage Corner Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, dropped 5.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million in January from 4.87 million in December, and are 5.1 … Continue reading

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Housing Construction Continues Increase

The Mortgage Corner Residential investment and housing starts are usually the best leading indicator for economy, and they show continued growth.  This isn’t the only leading indicator, but it suggests the economy will continue to grow over the next couple … Continue reading

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Will Interest Rates Continue to Rise?

The Mortgage Corner We think not.  Interest rates are rising, mainly due to some Fed Governors saying they may begin to end the QE3 purchase of securities later this year. But that is based on overly optimistic growth projections by … Continue reading

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New Home Sales Surging—First-timers Being Priced Out?

Financial FAQs New-home sales are surging, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. But who is buying them with interest rates up 1 percent since Chairman Bernanke made his infamous remark that QE3 bond buying could begin to slow in September? The … Continue reading

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Shadow Inventory of Bad Loans Still Too High

Financial FAQs The shadow inventory of troubled homes fell to about 2 million in April, down 18 percent from the same period in the prior year, and down 34 percent from a peak of 3 million in early 2010. But … Continue reading

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Existing-Home Sales, Inventories Climbing

The Mortgage Corner Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 0.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.97 million in April, reports the National Association of Realtors. This could … Continue reading

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Consumer Debt Falls to Pre-Recession Level

Financial FAQs The total amount of debt held by Americans fell again in the first three months of 2013 and stood at the lowest level since the middle of 2006, the New York Federal Reserve said Tuesday. The level of … Continue reading

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