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Student Loan Debt Looming as Affordability Constraints Stretch Further

July 13, 2023 by Alan Ratner

Given a combination of the recent increase in mortgage rates and a reacceleration in home prices over the last three months, the current P&I payment on an average new home stands at roughly $3,000 per month – up nearly 70% from two years ago and 25% above trend line...

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affordability homeownership millennials mortgage rates student debt

With Cash-Outs Now Dominating Refinances, Which Lenders Are Best Positioned?

May 19, 2022 by Kevin Kaczmarek

In 2021, elevated home price appreciation alongside low rates resulted in a mortgage origination market ideal for cash-out refinances, which saw unit volumes increase 39%, building on 50% growth in 2020. Many lenders saw the opportunity to create a bigger presence in this market...

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mortgage mortgage rates

Share of Homebuyers With Weaker Credit Profiles Bouncing Back, But Not Everywhere

February 03, 2022 by Kevin Kaczmarek

As we noted in our latest mortgage survey and November newsletter, lower-quality credits have been gaining share in the home purchase market and likely will continue to do so, barring a sudden resurgence in refinance activity. Some may ask how this can be the case given daily media headlines describing red-hot housing markets and affordability crises. Before addressing that, we should examine some facts...

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affordability demographics homeownership macro housing mortgage mortgage rates new home sales

Revisiting History as Mortgage Rates Climb Higher

April 01, 2021 by Ivy Zelman & Dennis McGill

No discussion about the health of, and future outlook for, the housing market would be complete without consideration of the mortgage rate environment. During our September 2020 Virtual Housing Summit presentation, we spent considerable time dissecting the various catalysts...

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affordability interest rates macro housing mortgage mortgage rates

High-End Housing is Back, and For Now, It’s Outperforming

December 17, 2020 by Ryan McKeveny & Dennis McGill

Alongside the broad-based 2H20 surge in homes sales, home prices and housing demand more generally, a notable undertone has been relative outperformance within the high-end segment of the market. What had easily been the most subdued piece of the housing puzzle in 2018 and 2019 has shifted to an outsized contributor of growth...

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affordability existing home sales home pricing homeownership mortgage rates real estate services

Exploding Housing Demand Viewed in Different Context

December 10, 2020 by Dennis McGill

While robust for-sale housing demand of late has commonly been explained with a pandemic tilt, we believe that the vast majority of the strength has been catalyzed by record low mortgage rates. Not only have mortgage rates...

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existing home sales macro housing mortgage rates

Which Mortgage Lenders Are Attracting Young Borrowers? You Might Be Surprised

November 10, 2020 by Ivy Zelman, Dennis McGill & Kevin Kaczmarek

Some mortgage lenders emphasize the benefit of capturing “customers for life”, whereby they attract younger, often first-time homebuyers as borrowers, retain servicing rights and, ideally, complete one or more future originations from that same borrower. While many lenders tout their technology...

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homeownership millennials mortgage mortgage rates

Home Price Increases Starting to Overcome Low Mortgage Rate Benefit

October 21, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

In 2019, the median and average new home cost $321,500 and $383,900, according to the Census Bureau. However, with almost 95% of purchases financed with a mortgage, it is not the total cost, but rather the monthly payment...

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affordability home pricing macro housing mortgage rates survey

As Housing Sentiment and Actions Often Contradict, What Factors Matter Most?

May 17, 2019 by Zelman & Associates

Last week, Fannie Mae released the results of its monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index, which is “designed to track consumers’ housing-related attitudes, intentions and perceptions.” As a research firm, we always find value in surveys, assuming ...

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macro housing mortgage rates

Is Fear of Homeowners Trapped by Low Mortgage Rate Justified?

November 30, 2018 by Zelman & Associates

According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, the effective rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage bottomed at approximately 3.30% in late-2012. From 2012-17, the rate was below 4.00% in 208 out of 313 weeks, or 66% of the time. With the latest ...

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macro housing mortgage rates