While the spring housing market has been plagued with low supply, high prices and spiking interest rates, would-be homebuyers are focusing on new construction. The reason? New homes have more incentives and availability than previously owned ones. “There’s more opportunity in new construction,” said Nicole Bachaud, a senior economist at Zillow Group. About 693,000 new … Read more
A residential real estate sold sign is seen in Washington, D.C. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images Mortgage rates rose for the third straight week last week, hitting the highest level since November. As a result, mortgage application demand dropped 2.7% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted … Read more
Jannese Torres is the founder of the blog Delish D’Lites and the podcast “Yo Quiero Dinero.” Photo Jannese Torres In her upcoming book, “Financially Lit!: The Modern Latina’s Guide to Level Up Your Dinero & Become Financially Poderosa,” author Jannese Torres discusses how she became the first woman in her family to graduate from college, … Read more
Homes in Rocklin, California, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage crossed over 7% on April 1, according to Mortgage News Daily, and it just kept going. It now sits right around 7.5%, the highest level since mid-November of last … Read more
Prospective buyers attend an open house at a home for sale in Larchmont, New York, US, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Tiffany Hagler-Geard | Bloomberg | Getty Images Sales of previously-owned homes dropped 4.3% in March compared with February, to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 4.19 million units, according to the National Association of … Read more
The Liberal government’s plan to allow some first-time homebuyers to stretch their mortgage amortizations to 30 years will only improve affordability for a “sliver” of the housing market, according to a BMO economist. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Thursday that Ottawa would allow first-time buyers to take out an insured mortgage amortized over 30 years, … Read more
This aerial picture shows homes near the Chesapeake Bay in Centreville, Maryland, on March 4, 2024. Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images Overall mortgage demand has now moved sideways for three straight weeks, but last week saw a split between those looking to buy a home and those hoping to save money with a … Read more
Comstock Images | Stockbyte | Getty Images It’s not unusual for new homeowners to face financial surprises, but people buying a newly built home may be more likely to encounter sticker shock on a key expense. Almost 75% of recent homebuyers had regrets about their purchase, according to a 2023 survey from Real Estate Witch. … Read more
10’000 Hours | Digitalvision | Getty Images Housing costs are outpacing median household incomes in the U.S., further straining affordability. Would-be homebuyers need to earn $113,520 a year to afford the typical house in the U.S. That is 35% more than what the typical household earns annually ($84,072), according to a new analysis by Redfin, … Read more
The Spring housing market is defying expectations that prices would cool and competition would ease. Higher mortgage rates usually cool both prices and demand, as they did last year, but that’s not the case now. There are still too few homes for sale because current homeowners can’t afford to move, and it’s keeping prices high. … Read more
