22 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 22nd, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included National Association of Home Builders' Housing Market Index, the Federal Reserve's Beige Book report and the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued were delayed due to the federal government shutdown, which continued and became the longest government shutdown on record. NAHB: Builder Confidence Rises Amid Headwinds Home builder confidence rose two points in January according to the National Association of Home Builders. Builder concerns over rising construction costs and tariffs on building materials…
Read More
14 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 14th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, readings on inflation and core inflation. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-tome jobless claims were also released. If the government shutdown continues, it is expected to impact release dates for readings from federal government agencies. Federal Reserve Watches and Waits on Interest Rates as Inflation Slows Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve will "wait and see" about raising the target federal funds rate this year. Chairman Powell spoke at a discussion hosed by the Economic Club of Washington,…
Read More
07 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 7th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included Labor Department readings on private and public sector jobs, the national unemployment rate. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Monthly reporting on construction spending was delayed due to the government shutdown. Public and Private-Sector Jobs Growth Exceeds Expectations ADP reported 271private sector jobs added in December as compared to 157,000 jobs added in November. Analysts expected 182,000 jobs added for December and said that December's reading was the highest number of jobs added in almost two years. Large companies added 54,000 jobs, medium sized companies added 129,000 jobs and…
Read More
02 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Grinds to Lowest Rate in 2 Years

Financial Reports, ,
Home prices rose by 0.40 percent in October according to Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index and were unchanged from September's year-over-year reading of 5.50 percent growth. Slower growth in home prices could help some would-be home buyers enter the market, but rapidly rising mortgage rates have sidelined buyers concerned with affordability and meeting strict mortgage lending requirements. High Mortgage Rates Stifle Demand for Homes October's year-over-year reading for home price growth was the lowest in two years, but home price growth continued to exceed wage increases; builders continued to face labor shortages and higher materials costs. Rising mortgage rates were…
Read More
31 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 31st, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller Housing Market Indices, National Association of Realtors® on pending home sales and weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.   The Commerce Department's reading on sales of new homes was delayed due to the federal government's shutdown. Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Lowest in Two Years Home price growth was nearly nil with October's month-to-month reading of 0.40 percent; The Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index showed a year-over-year home price growth rate of 5.50 percent, which matched September's year-over-year reading. Las Vegas, Nevada led home price growth in the 20-city index…
Read More
24 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 24th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and National Association of Realtors® report on sales of previously-owned homes. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Home Builders Lose Confidence as Housing Crunch Continues Homebuilder confidence fell to a 36 month low in December as homebuilder concerns over rising home prices, high mortgage rates and decreasing inventories of available homes sidelined home buyers. The NAHB Housing Market Index fell four points to 56. Components of the Housing Market Index reading also fell as…
Read More
17 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 17th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings on inflation and retail sales. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Retail Sales Grow, Inflation Unchanged in November November retail sales grew by 0.20 percent in November as compared to expectations of 0.10 percent and October's reading of 1.10 percent growth. Core retail sales, which exclude automotive sales, grew by 0.20 percent and met expectations. Analysts said online stores pushed retail sales growth in November. Inflation held steady in November as expected. Inflation grew by 0.30 percent in October. Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food sectors, rose…
Read More
10 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 10th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings on construction spending and Labor Department readings on private and public jobs growth. The Consumer Sentiment Index was released along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Construction Spending Slows in October Residential construction slowed in last month as public works projects increased. Private sector construction spending fell by -0.10 percent as compared to expected growth of 0.30 percent and last month's negative reading of -0.10 percent. Construction spending for October was $1.309 billion on a seasonally adjusted annual basis as compared to September's revised reading of $1.311 billion. Overall construction…
Read More