When there are too few homes for sale, the quickest solution is to build more homes. New home construction offers buyers more options and helps alleviate upward pressure on prices of existing homes. In other words, it’s exactly what the housing market needs right now, since the inventory of homes for sale remains well below its pre-pandemic norm. Fortunately, according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it looks like home builders are on the case. In fact, new residential construction statistics show the number of new, single-family homes that began construction in July was 6.7 percent higher than the month before. That’s a significant mid-summer surge and an encouraging sign for shoppers of both new and existing homes. It also puts single-family housing starts nearly 10 percent above where they were last year at the same time. Regionally, the data shows home building strongest in the West and Midwest, with the Northeast and South both seeing month-over-month declines. (source)

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved higher last week for 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances. Rates were also up for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, though they fell for FHA loans and 5/1 ARMs. Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, says the economy has been resilient and it’s pushing rates upward. “Treasury rates were elevated again last week following mixed data on inflation and more indication of resiliency in the economy, which may pose a challenge to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to lower inflation,” Kan said. Still, despite higher rates, demand for loans to buy homes was flat from the week before and there was a 2.4 percent week-over-week increase in government purchase applications, as demand for both FHA and VA loans rose. The ARM share of applications was also up, hitting its highest level since April. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. (source)

The National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index is based on a monthly survey of builders. The index gauges builders’ confidence in the new home market using a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view current conditions as good than poor. In August, the index fell to 50, six points lower than the previous month. Alicia Huey, NAHB’s chairman, says builder sentiment declined but demand for new homes remains strong. “While this latest confidence reading is a reminder that housing affordability is an ongoing challenge, demand for new construction continues to be supported by a lack of resale inventory, as many homeowners elect to stay put because they are locked in at a low mortgage rate,” Huey said. The survey found a rising number of home builders countering higher costs by offering incentives to buyers. In fact, 25 percent of survey respondents reported reducing prices to bolster sales. (source)

For most of the past decade, home prices have been rising steadily. A historically low number of homes for sale matched with historically low mortgage rates caused an imbalance in the housing market. Particularly during the pandemic, low rates pushed home buyer demand higher and the competition for available homes led to skyrocketing prices. For home buyers, years of surging home prices can make it feel like every house must now cost $1 million or more. But how many million dollar houses are there really? Well, one recent analysis crunched the numbers and, though the number of million dollar homes has definitely jumped since the pandemic, it’s beginning to cool off. In fact, the share of single-family homes worth more than $1 million fell from an all-time high of 8.6 percent one year ago down to 8 percent now. In 41 of the 99 most populous metro areas, the number of million-dollar homes has fallen and, in the 55 metros where it’s risen, the increase was less than one percent. Whether the trend continues is anyone’s guess but, for now at least, the number of million dollar homes is actually on the decline. (source)

The housing market has a pattern and it’s fairly easy to spot. It follows the seasons. Things start heating up in the spring and early summer, then begin to cool off beginning around September. Fall and winter are typically slower, with fewer homes to buy and fewer buyers active in the market. Of course, just like the seasons, sometimes things veer off track and we’ll have an unusually hot winter market or a cool summer, with slower sales and less competition. Generally speaking, though, the housing market has its pattern. This year looks to be no different. In fact, according to one report, the market is already showing signs of a late-summer slowdown. For one, price increases have slowed. From June to July, the typical home climbed 0.9 percent, after rising 1.4 percent the previous two months. Homes are also spending a little longer on the market, with the typical home going under contract two days later than it did in April and May. A combination of lower prices and less competition is good news for home buyers looking to make a move in the months ahead. But while there are encouraging signs, buyers still need to be prepared. Active inventory remains 44 percent below 2019 levels. (source)

The oldest members of Generation Z – roughly defined as those born between 1997 and 2012 – have reached early adulthood. They’re not quite the age of the average first-time home buyer but they’re definitely at an age when they’re considering whether or not they might want to buy a home in the future. So how do these young Americans feel about homeownership? Is it as important to them as it has been to previous generations? Well, according to one recent survey, it is. In fact, 65 percent of respondents said it was personally important to them to own a home. Among them, nearly 90 percent said they felt it was an important part of building wealth, with respondents who want to buy in the future citing financial security and stability as the top two reasons to buy. In other words, Generation Z clearly sees the enduring benefits of homeownership and views it as key to their financial future. A good portion of them have already gotten started. Census data shows 25 percent of Americans under 25 currently own their own home. (source)

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved higher last week across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, says there were a few reasons for the increase. “Treasury yields rates rose last week and mortgage rates followed suit, due to a combination of the Treasury’s funding announcement and the downgrading of the U.S. government debt rating,” Kan said. Higher rates led to a slowing of mortgage demand, including a 3 percent decline in the number of prospective home buyers applying for loans to buy homes. Purchase loan activity is now 27 percent below where it was last year at the same time. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. (source)

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index measures how Americans feel about their personal financial situation, the overall economy, and the housing market. Based on a monthly survey, the index asks respondents for their perception of home prices and mortgage rates, whether they feel secure in their job and finances, and whether they think it’s a good time to buy or sell a home. July’s results show Americans feeling more confident in their personal financial situation, with the share saying they aren’t concerned about losing their job up 6 percent and 71 percent saying their household income is steady. Housing market measures, on the other hand, show Americans are still concerned about affordability. “While consumers are reporting confidence in the components related to their personal financial situations, it’s unlikely we’ll see housing sentiment catch up to other broader economic confidence measures until there is meaningful improvement to home purchase affordability,” Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says. Still, a majority of survey participants say it’s a good time to sell a house and a rising number see mortgage rates decreasing over the next year. (source)

There are a number of reasons buying a home has gotten more expensive over the past few years. First, the lack of homes for sale caused home prices to skyrocket, then the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates to help battle inflation. As a result, mortgage rates climbed higher and affordability became more challenging – especially for first-time home buyers. First-time buyers, because they don’t have the proceeds of a home’s sale to help them cover the upfront costs of buying a home, have to come up with a down payment and the money to cover closing costs mostly from scratch. That can be difficult in an evolving market. These days, especially so. In fact, according to one recent analysis, a first-time home buyer needs to earn an average of $64,500 to afford the typical starter home, which is now selling for $243,000. That doesn’t make homeownership unattainable, but it does mean first-time buyers need to be prepared with plenty of savings, if they hope to succeed in today’s market. (source)

As a homeowner, your mortgage payment will likely be among your biggest monthly bills. That’s why it’s a good idea for prospective home buyers to know what the typical mortgage payment looks like these days, and whether they’re getting more or less affordable. The Mortgage Bankers Association tracks median mortgage payments each month. Its Purchase Applications Payment Index – which is based on applications for loans to buy homes – can give home buyers a good read on overall affordability conditions and also what to expect when they find a house to buy. According to the most recent results, the median mortgage payment was essentially unchanged in June, falling to $2,162 from $2,165. For borrowers applying for lower-payment mortgages, payments dropped to $1,459. Edward Seiler, MBA’s associate vice president, housing economics, and executive director, Research Institute for Housing America, says affordability is still challenging but stabilizing prices may help buyers. “The median purchase application amount fell from $330,000 to $326,000 in June, which is one positive sign that home prices are stabilizing,” Seiler said. “An ongoing combination of flattening home prices and lower rates would offer reprieve for households who are looking to buy a home.” (source)