Frank Nothaft
Frank Nothaft
across built couple england families home last markets means pace past percent seen strong value values
Over the last couple of years, we've seen many markets with strong home value appreciation. They're up at a considerable pace in many markets across the country, particularly from New England all the way down to Washington, D.C., ... Home values are up in D.C., for example, by over 10 percent over the past year. That means families have built up home equity.
accounts bulk equity home typical
For the typical family, home equity accounts for the bulk of their wealth.
confidence consumer economists expect housing low mac market months mortgage rates remain strong
With mortgage rates low and consumer confidence high, Freddie Mac economists expect the housing market to remain strong in the months ahead.
affordable coming continue expect housing low market mortgage percent present rate rates remaining strong
With the unemployment rate at a low of 4.3 percent and mortgage rates remaining at present affordable levels, we expect the housing market to continue to be strong into the coming months.
annual average below economic mortgage projection rates spring thanks
Today's annual average mortgage rates are below even that projection thanks to the spring 'soft-patch' in economic growth.
compared consumer credit employment growth helped higher highest interest january jump level mortgage push rates since strength unexpected
The strength in employment growth and an unexpected jump in consumer credit in January helped push mortgage rates a little higher this week. While long-term interest rates are at the highest level since May of 1998, they are still very affordable, particularly when compared to the 1970s and 1980s.
caused certain combined cut fall federal further interest next rates reserve weakness
Anticipation that the Federal Reserve may well cut rates at its next meeting, combined with further weakness in certain sectors of the economy, caused interest rates to fall again.
adding basically certainly favorable good home hovering level months mortgage past rate remained robust sales
The new home sales rate has remained robust for a good many months already. Certainly adding to the level of sales in the past six-to-12 months has been a very favorable level of mortgage rates, which are basically hovering around 7 percent.
exceed forecast interest last percent rates six time
At this time last year, our forecast called for interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to exceed six percent by this time this year,
based cause currently higher highest housing january market occurred rates starts week
That said, January housing starts were the highest in over 20 years, and that is based on higher rates than we are currently experiencing, ... All in all, the little run-up in rates that occurred this week will not be enough to cause a significant slowdown in current housing market activity.
concern consumer continued cut declining drop economy federal helped housing interest mortgage overall rates recent since spite support weakness year
The Federal Reserve's recent cut in interest rates and a continued concern over weakness in the overall economy contributed to another drop in mortgage rates this week. In spite of the slowdown in other sectors and a lessening of consumer confidence, declining mortgage rates since the first of the year have helped to support housing activity.
consumer deflation economy housing indicate leading pick price ready released reports starts stronger suggesting together week
The Consumer Price Index released this week showed no decline, suggesting that the possibility of deflation is still low. Housing starts were stronger than expected, as were the leading indicators released today. All of these reports together could indicate the economy is ready to pick up growth.
annual looks lowest matter mortgage rates register though
As a matter of fact, it looks as though 1998 will register the lowest annual mortgage rates in 30 years.
compare directly growth housing matter percent quarter second year
As a matter of fact, housing directly contributed to real GDP growth of 19 percent in the first quarter of the year and 23 percent in the second quarter. To put this in perspective, this would compare to 17 percent of real GDP growth over all of 2004.