Banks are tightening standards, and private credit markets are adopting a "risk-off" stance. Billionaire Sam Zell probably doesn’t have trouble getting a bank loan. But one of the portfolio companies of his firm Equity Residential — a company he described as very well capitalized and an “A-” credit — recently “had the hardest revolver extension” that Zell’s firm has ever been involved in. Zell’s anecdote, provided at
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.61% as of Nov. 17 The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.61% as of Nov. 17, according to data released by Freddie Mac FMCC, 1.38% Thursday, lower than the 7.08% rate seen last week. It was the biggest weekly decline since 1981.Still, the 30-year was averaging at 3.10% at this point last year. “Mortgage rates tumbled this week due to incoming data that suggests inflatio
Ballot measures in the U.S. to build more affordable housing and protect tenants from soaring rent increases were plentiful and fared well in last week’s midterm elections, a sign of growing angst over record high rents exacerbated by inflation and a dearth of homes.Voters approved capping rent increases at below inflation in three U.S. cities: Portland, Maine, and Richmond and Santa Monica in California. Another measure was leading in the vote
Mortgage application volume rose 2.7% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. An additional adjustment was made for the Veteran’s Day holiday.The small increase followed a government report last week showing that inflation may be starting to ease. That, in turn, sent bond yields plunging and mortgage rates with them. Thursday saw the sharpest one-day drop in the ave
October’s lower inflation rate is a welcome sign for a housing market that’s seen steady declines in 2022. A recent report showing that the rate of inflation declined in October is good news for the real estate industry, and possibly a bellwether of declining mortgage rates in coming months, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, told thousands of attendees Friday at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience(li
An annual report from the Counselors of Real Estate identifies the most pressing topics that could have long-term consequences for housing. Both the residential and commercial real estate markets face an “extraordinary era of unpredictability,” William McCarthy, 2023 global chair of The Counselors of Real Estate, said Friday at a session during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience in Orlando, Fla. Whether it’s inflation, rising interest rates,
Follow live updates and election results here.Gas prices got a lot of attention from candidates these midterm elections, but rents and home prices that skyrocketed during the pandemic are a far bigger chunk of people's budgets — and those increases are fueled by a historic housing shortage. Voters in dozens of cities were asked to approve more spending for affordable housing, and in some places they did so overwhelmingly.Kansas City&n
Only 16% of those surveyed by Fannie Mae in October said it was a good time to buy a home, and the percentage who said it's a good time to sell also fell, according to new data released Monday New markets require new approaches and tactics. Experts and industry leaders take the stage at Inman Connect New York in January to help navigate the market shift — and prepare for the next one. Meet the moment and join us. Register here.A
Economists eye two possible scenarios: Rates could rise to 8% or higher by the end of the year, or they could stabilize. Know what to expect. Mortgage rates this week dipped slightly below 7%, even after the Federal Reserve aggressively raised its benchmark interest rate again to tame inflation. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.95% this week after hitting a 20-year high of 7.08% last week, Freddie Mac reports.“Even with the Federal Re
Rising interest rates have increased the average monthly loan payment by a whopping $1,000 year over year. With the rate for a 30-year mortgage rising to 7.08% this week—the highest average since April 2002, according to Freddie Mac—the average monthly loan payment is now $1,000 more than a year ago, Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of REALTORS®, writes on the Economists’ Outlook bl
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