Home purchase application activity fluctuated over the Thanksgiving holiday period, both increasing and decreasing over the past few weeks. This week mortgage activity saw a slight decline. According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—decreased 1.4% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted…
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which measures American opinions of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months, declined by 6.8 points in November to 88.7 from 95.5 in October, as already negative consumer attitudes toward the economy appear to be souring further. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of…
In a delayed report on job growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Nov. 20, U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate rising slightly to 4.4%. Employment continued to trend up in healthcare, food services and drinking places, and social assistance. Job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing and…
After a period of relatively steady activity, home purchase applications fell back this week as mortgage rates reached recent multi-week highs. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the market composite index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—decreased 5.2% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Nov. 14, following…
At the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting Dec. 9-10, the final one of 2025, the voting committee will decide whether to adjust interest rates—with one voting member, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, already making his voting intentions clear. In a Monday, Nov. 17 appearance at the Society of Professional Economists held at Oxford…
Buoyed by the reopening of the government on Thursday, a bit of optimism was in the air at NAR NXT, where Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun predicted a 14% increase in existing-home sales in 2026, along with a 5% increase in new-home sales, a 4% increase in the median home price, and mortgage rates settling…
The post NAR Chief Economist: ‘The Light Is Flashing at the End of the Tunnel’ appeared first on RISMedia.
Mortgage rates saw little movement this week, reflecting a overall market pause related to the government shutdown these past weeks and related uncertainty, economists say. According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released by Freddie Mac Thursday, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) moved up 2 basis points this week to 6.24% from…
Since taking office on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in September, Stephen Miran has pushed for a looser monetary policy. At both the September and October Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings, Miran dissented from the majority vote to cut interest rates by a quarter point, in favor of a higher cut by half…
Applications for home purchases hit their fastest pace since September this week, despite a recent uptick in mortgage rates. Borrowers continue to shop for homes especially in markets where inventory has increased and price growth slowed, mortgage data watchers said. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the market composite index—the measure of mortgage loan…
Following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments last week that a December rate cut is not a guarantee, economists said mortgage rates moving higher was an expected market response but also one that favors an improving climate for home affordability. According to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released by Freddie Mac Thursday, the average…
| Newer Posts | Older Posts |