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Most recent market news
Thursday, May 18
Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.02 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending May 18, 2017, down from last week when it averaged 4.05 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.58 percent.
- 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.27 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.29 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.81 percent.
- 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.13 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.14 percent. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.80 percent.
“The 30-year mortgage rate fell 3 basis points this week to 4.02 percent,” said Sean Becketti, chief economist at Freddie Mac, in a statement. “However, this week’s survey closed prior to Wednesday’s flight to quality. The delayed impact of the associated decline in Treasury yields may push mortgage rates lower in next week’s survey.”
Mortgage rates:
[graphiq id=”b2w6fmfIyNL” title=”30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates for the Past 6 Months” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/b2w6fmfIyNL” link=”http://mortgage-lenders.credio.com” link_text=”30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates for the Past 6 Months | Credio”]
News from earlier this week
Tuesday May 16
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate on Zillow Mortgages is currently 3.80 percent, down four basis points from this time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate inched higher last week before falling near current levels on Friday.
“Mortgage rates climbed to their highest levels since late March before dropping on the heels of weak inflation and retail sales data, which could push the Fed to delay expected rate hikes in the months ahead,” said Erin Lantz, vice president of mortgages at Zillow, in a statement. “Financial markets should be mostly quiet this week, with no major economic data scheduled for release.”
May 2017 Re/Max National Housing Report
- The average number of Days on Market declined for the third consecutive month and April’s 57 days set a new low for April in the report’s nine-year history.
- The Median Sales Price of $226,000 was the highest price for any April and marked the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
- Months Supply of Inventory, which dropped below 3 months in March for the first time in the report’s history, was 2.8. A months supply of less than 6.0 is considered a seller’s market.
- Inventory was down 17.6 percent from April 2016. This is the 102nd consecutive month of year-over-year declines dating back to October 2008.
Monday, May 15
NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Housing Market Index
- Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose two points in May to a level of 70 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
- This is the second highest HMI reading since the downturn.
“This report shows that builders’ optimism in the housing market is solidifying, even as they deal with higher building material costs and shortages of lots and labor,” said NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald, a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, in a news release.
“The HMI measure of future sales conditions reached its highest level since June 2005, a sign of growing consumer confidence in the new home market,” added NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz in the release. “Especially as existing home inventory remains tight, we can expect increased demand for new construction moving forward.”
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