Home prices are rising again as mortgage rates remain low
Low mortgage rates in the United States are finally beginning to drive price increases in the housing market. It’s a trend some analysts believe is going to pick up steam over the next year. For months, the low 30-year fixed mortgage rate (now hovering between 3.5% and 3.6%) has been encouraging a boom in refinance […]
Low mortgages won’t help first-time homebuyers if the inventory isn’t there
As 30-year fixed mortgage rates continue to plummet in the United States, many existing homeowners are taking advantage of the trend by joining the wave of refinancing. Even with larger economic forces raising concerns about the U.S. economy, the housing market continues to broadly offer investment and savings opportunities that haven’t been around since November […]
Real estate replaces stocks as America’s favorite long-term investment
Americans have cast aside their painful memories of the 2008 real estate housing market crisis and regained their faith in real estate investing, according to a national survey from Bankrate. Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a safe and reliable long-term investment. It not only provides the benefit of a roof, but it also […]
Refinancing boom has mortgage brokers swamped with applications
The surge in mortgage refinancing applications in 2019, led by prolonged falling interest rates in the United States, has work piling up for the mortgage brokers who are processing them. Compared to a year ago this past week, refinancing applications were up an incredible 116%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. With the 30-year fixed […]
‘Disaster Investors’ are capitalizing on volatile climate in United States
The aftermath of a natural disaster is one of the most tragic scenes of loss and devastation one can imagine. It is also an opportunity for real estate investors who have learned how to profit from destruction. A report from the Wall Street Journal details the rise of a class of investors who are specifically […]
Freddie Mac anticipates low mortgage rates extending through 2020
A welcoming housing market could be in the forecast for a while after Freddie Mac’s July report indicated that low mortgage rates will likely hang around for a while. With 30-year fixed mortgage rates hanging around or below 4% for much of 2019, the economy has seen an uptick in mortgage applications for purchase and […]
Forecasters see slowdown for home remodeling in the United States
One of the most common investments made to improve the value of a home, both for sellers and buyers, is remodeling. The industry has thrived in times of economic growth and a solid housing market nationally, but it’s not all created equal. A new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projects that […]
Climate change threat is driving risk reassessment in real estate investment
Natural disasters have always been a practical concern for real estate investors. Putting together a portfolio that combines safety and high performance is often the goal, and sometimes the most attractive locations happen to be in a danger zone. For decades now, the question of climate change has been a subject of debate in the […]
New data reveals American’s gut sense for predicting mortgage rates
Over the first half of 2019, mortgage rates in the United States dipped to near-historic lows. Americans who were paying attention have reaped the benefits of refinancing, and there’s now enough data to prove they have a good gut sense. Mortgage liquidity provider Fannie Mae conducts a monthly survey in which U.S. citizens are asked […]
