04 Feb 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 4th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings new and pending home sales, Case-Shiller housing market indices and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. New Home Sales Rise as Pending Home Sales Fall Sales of new homes rose 17 percent in November for an eight-month high. Year-to-date sales of new homes were only 2.70 percent higher than for the same period in 2018.New home sales rose to 657,000 sales as compared to expectations of 563,000 sales and November's reading of 562,000 sales. Analysts cautioned that Commerce Department readings for new home sales are prepared…
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28 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 28th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings on sales of previously owned homes and weekly readings on average mortgage rates and new jobless claims. A scheduled report on sales of new homes was not available due to the government shutdown. National Association of Realtors®: Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Lowest in 3 Years Sales of previously owned homes fell in December and failed to meet expectations. 4.99 million pre-owned homes were sold on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis; analysts predicted 5.10 million sales based on 5.33 million sales in November 2018. December's reading showed the lowest number of sales since November of 2015.…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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26 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

FOMC Raises Key Rate, Forecasts 2 Rate Hikes in 2019

Real Estate, ,
During its post-meeting statement, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve announced that its target range for the Fed's key interest rate would increase one quarter percent to 2.25 to 2.50 percent. While this rate hike was not expected by the Executive branch, it met analyst expectations. FOMC said in its customary post-meeting statement that members expect to make two interest rate hikes in 2019 as compared to three rate hikes in 2018 and the Committee's original forecast of three rate hikes in 2019. Given current economic conditions, the Fed forecasted only one rate hike for 2020. Hawks…
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