Growing Demand and Higher Home Sales

SoCal-based financial information company CoreLogic recently offered its real estate market forecast for 2016 using their widely cited Home Price Index (HBI). Much like other forecasters, CoreLogic expects a rise in home sales and prices next year, as demand for housing continues to grow.

According to this report, “the improved macro-economy has brightened the financial outlook for many Californians and enhanced their sense of financial security.” As of this year, home buying activity has the potential to lift Californian home sales to a level not seen since 2007 (before the housing market collapsed). Prices are also expected to rise faster than inflation, albeit slower than last year, in 2016. Popular opinion among industry professionals is that strong demand will drive prices up in 2016, but at a more steady cadence than 2015. In essence, 2016 could see additional but smaller home-price gains in California.

Slowly & Cautiously: Rate Hikes

Next week The Federal Reserve may decide to raise rates. But just what does this mean for increases down the road given the state of our current economy?

Chairwoman of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen, has reiterated in recent press releases that the economy won’t be able to sustain higher interest rates in the coming years. Officials from the Fed expect to proceed cautiously before raising rates again. Other countries that have tried raising rates in this past decade have since lowered them back. It is the Fed’s belief that the current state of the economy is such that it can sustain a modest raise, if only for the foreseeable future. The median forecast among 17 officials in September showed they expected the rate to reach 1.375% in December 2016 and 2.625% in late 2017. That would put them on track to raise rates four times next year and five times in 2017 (source: Jon Hilsenrath).

CBS News states, "It may seem counterintuitive, but when the Federal Reserve finally gets around to raising interest rates, the impact on mortgage rates should be negligible. After all, the last time the Fed was hiking, from mid-2004 to mid-2006, mortgage rates rose only a small amount, half a percentage point. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has signaled that the central bank plans to soon boost the federal funds rate -- which banks charge each other to lend funds -- likely at its next meeting in December. After that, she has indicated that the Fed will increase the fed funds rate only gradually, perhaps a quarter-point at a time. But few borrowers realize that the Fed's impact on longer-term rates, such as those for home mortgages, is muted to nil. In fact, "15- and 30-year mortgage rates could as easily go down as up," said Jason Lina, lead advisor at Resource Planning Group in Atlanta." 

Mortgage Apps Decline: Mortgage Rates Ease

Results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® by Freddie Mac, showed an average 30-year fixed mortgage rate declining slightly leading up into this Thanksgiving holiday. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage hasn't budged above 4 percent since the week of July 23rd, which has helped affordability for prospective homebuyers in wake of increased home prices.

This behavior is the result of low levels of inventory in many markets. Mortgage applications however have been a bit of a mixed bag in the later part of November. The holidays have already put a split in market data as application activity was reported down by nearly 3.2 percent. This data includes adjustment for that week's Veterans' Day holiday. The Refinance share of all mortgage applications increased very slightly, nearly .01 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 1 percent from the previous week but rose 5 percent on an unadjusted basis. An interesting time to say the least, but leaves opportunity for seasonal gains before the new year.

(data according to the The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Market Composite Index.)

First-time Buyers Have Not RSVP’d to the Recovery Party

On Thursday the National Association of Realtors said the share of first-time buyers is at the second lowest level in over 30 years. The 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reveals a home buying market driven by repeat buyers within two income households. Historically first time buyers constitute nearly 40 percent share of primary home purchases but according to NAR's survey this trend has declined for three consecutive years to 32 percent.

There are several reasons why there should be more of these buyers in the market. These reasons include low interest rates, healthy job prospects for college graduates, and the increasing costs to rent. However there are many obstacles slowing first-time buyers down. 

Increased rental amounts paired with current home prices are diminishing the ability to save for a down payment. This is coupled with low inventory for new and existing-homes in this buyer's price range. 

31 is the median age of a First-time buyer, which remains unchanged since 2013. This home buyers median income was $69,400, up $1,100 from 2014. The typical first-time buyer purchased a 1,620-square-foot home (1,570 in 2014) costing $170,000. With the median amount of student loan debt for all buyers at $25,000, it's likely some younger households with even higher levels of debt cannot afford to save for an adequate down payment or at the very least, have decided to put off buying until their debt is more manageable.

5.1%, the Positive Growth of Home Prices in the Month of August

The pace steadily rose in August from the same time last year. It’s a sure sign that the housing marketing is improving in spite of an overall slowdown in our economy.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5.1% in the 12 months ending in August, according to figures released Tuesday. That's up from a 4.9% pace in July. 

Home prices have risen at a 5% pace for the better part of this year, which economists define as more sustainable than last year's double-digit gains. This can be attributed to a few specific factors: three years of solid hiring and historically low mortgage rates have enabled more Americans to buy homes. That's helped by lifting sales of existing homes nearly 9% in just the past year. 

“Sales of existing homes jumped 4.7% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.5 million. That's a reassuring sign that the housing sector has so far been insulated from weaker growth overseas that is slowing growth in the U.S. manufacturing and energy sectors.”

Application Volume Up, Down, Up, Down...

The Mortgage Bankers Association said today that applications during the week of October 23rd decreased at roughly 3.5% -- adjusting seasonally from the previous week.

Granted the accounted for data increased 7% on an unadjusted basis, taking into account for Columbus Day. While this news is not shocking, the Refinance Index decreased 4% from the previous week, remaining the same in comparison to the week prior at 59.4%. Applications for government backed mortgages also tapered off slightly from higher levels last week. The share of FHA decreased from 14.3% to 13.7%. 

Is now a good time to refinance? Yes. For more homeowners, it’s still a good time to refinance. Interest rates have risen from the record lows we witnessed a couple of years back, but mortgages remain incredibly cheap in comparison. Reach out to your loan officer today to go over your situation to see if there is room to save money.