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Mortgage rates surge to highest level since 2000

Housing Wire

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has hit the highest level since the year 2000,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist said. However, unlike the turn of the millennium, house prices today are rising alongside mortgage rates, primarily due to low inventory.

Mortgage 466
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Tight credit, high rates and low inventory add to buyers’ affordability struggles 

Housing Wire

Tightening credit availability, elevated rates, inventory shortages and strengthening home prices are adding to affordability challenges, the report notes. One key contributor to the affordability challenges is dwindling inventory nationwide. Since the start of 2023, inventory has deteriorated in 95% of major markets, the report notes.

Inventory 397
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Days on market grow despite low inventory for existing homes

Housing Wire

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported today on two trends in existing home sales that we have seen for many months now: sales are declining while total inventory data has fallen directly for the three straight months. Total housing inventory fell in this report, the third report in a row that shows total inventory has decreased.

Inventory 473
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Homeowners Have Zero Incentive to Upsize in This Current Housing Market  

Appraisal Buzz

and home prices rising to all-time highs due to lack of inventory, first-time homebuyers are getting discouraged by declining affordability. With mortgage rates now well above 6.5% But this lack of affordability is just as much of a downer for homeowners looking to upsize.

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Why are exisitng home prices up year over year?

Housing Wire

Inventory still negative year over year From NAR: Total housing inventory registered at the end of August was 1.1 Unsold inventory sits at a 3.3-month The housing inventory data has been negative year over year per the NAR data for the past few months. Year-over-year, sales fell 15.3% (down from 4.77 from July and 14.1%

Inventory 517
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Mortgage rates continue falling before Thanksgiving: Freddie Mac

Housing Wire

In recent weeks, rates have dropped by half a percent, but potential homebuyers continue to hold out for lower rates and more inventory,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. Except for the last seven weeks, current mortgage rates hit their highest levels since 2000.

Mortgage 450
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Annual home-price growth cooled further in February

Housing Wire

However, despite the recent uptick, the continued low inventory conditions are expected to keep home prices elevated nationally. The indices have a base value of 100 in January 2000; in other words, a current index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation rate since January 2000 for a typical home located within a particular market.

Inventory 396