Daily market update: Sept. 17, 2015

First American Financial Corp.’s Existing Home Sales Capacity (EHS-C) model:

• The EHS-C rate increased by 0.4 percent in August 2015 compared with July and decreased by 1.1 percent year over year.
• The EHS-C increased by 26,000 (seasonally adjusted, annualized rate) in August.
• In 2015 (through July), existing-home sales have increased by almost 800,000 sales.

U.S. Census Bureau new residential construction starts for August 2015:

• Building permits for privately owned housing units in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million, 3.5 percent higher than the revised July 2015 rate and 12.5 percent above the August 2014 estimate.
• Single-family authorizations were at a rate of 699,000 in August, 2.8 percent above the revised July figure of 680,000.
• Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 739,000, 3.0 percent below the revised July figure of 762,000.

Zillow’s student debt and housing analysis:

• Student debt does not significantly reduce the chance of owning a house — as long as the student graduates.
• The chances of a married couple with no student debt owning a home are about 69.8 percent if at least one of them has a bachelor’s degree. If the same couple has $30,000 in student debt, their homeownership chances drop 2.1 percent to 67.7 percent.
• The people least likely to own homes are those with student debt and no degree.

Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Sentiment Survey for 3Q 2015:

• Lenders report easing credit standards during 3Q across all loan types.
• Lenders who reported increased purchase demand fell slightly in 3Q 2015 from 2Q 2015 but remains high compared with 2014.
• Lenders reporting an increased profit margin outlook over the next quarter fell quarter over quarter but was similar to 2015 levels.

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey:

• For the week ending Sept. 17, 2015, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.91 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from 3.9 percent last week.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.11 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from 3.1 percent last week.
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 2.92 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from 2.91 percent last week.

Re/Max’s September 2015 National Housing Report:

• August 2015 home sales were 5.0 percent higher than sales in August 2014.
• August sales were also 27.6 percent greater than sales in August 2008.
• Completed transaction in August were lower than July 2015 by 11.4 percent.

Weekly mortgage rates:

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We’ll add more market news briefs throughout the day. Check back to read the latest.

Yesterday’s market news:

FNC’s July 2015 residential price index:

• Home prices rose at 0.2 percent month over month, a much slower pace than the January through May price increases.
• This is the weakest June-to-July seasonal growth in the past 3 1/2 years.
• Final sales for foreclosed and REO properties comprised 9 percent of all total existing-home sales, down from 9.7 percent in June 2015 and 10.4 percent in July 2014.

Trulia’s housing affordability research:

• Affordability has fallen in 89 of the 100 largest housing markets.
• Ohio is the most affordable state; California is the least affordable.
• Some affordable metros become less affordable when transportation and utility costs are factored in.

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