March 12, 2020
As refinance applications continue to surge and lenders work to manage capacity, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked up from last week’s all-time low. Mortgage rates remain at extraordinary levels and many homeowners are smartly weighing their options to refinance, potentially saving themselves money.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.
The U.S. Commerce Department reported this week that new-home sales rose 7.9% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 764,000 units, which is 18.6% higher than a year ago and the highest monthly sales pace since July 2007. While new-home sales are increasing, new-home inventories fell 6.6% from a year ago and are now the lowest since 2017. The National Association of REALTORS® and others are calling on home builders to increase residential home construction to meet increased demand, but a labor shortage, higher costs of construction and possible supply-chain disruption due to COVID-19 may limit homebuiders’ ability to respond to the increased demand.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 29:
For the month of January:
All comparisons are to 2019
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.
March 5, 2020
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record 3.29 percent this week, the lowest level in its nearly 50-year history. Meanwhile, mortgage applications increased 10 percent last week from one year ago and show no signs of slowing down. Given these strong indicators in rates and sales, as well as recent increases in new construction, it’s clear the housing market continues to be a positive force for the broader economy.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.
The ShowingTime Showing Index® for January saw a 20.2 percent year-over-year increase in showing traffic nationwide. All regions of the country were up double-digits from the year before, with the Midwest Region up 15.7 percent and the West Region, up 34.1 percent. As showing activty is a leading indicator for future home sales, the 2020 housing market is off to a strong start.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 22:
For the month of January:
All comparisons are to 2019
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.
February 27, 2020
Given the recent volatility of the ten-year Treasury yield, it’s not surprising that mortgage rates again have dropped. These low rates combined with high consumer confidence continue to drive home sales upward, a trend that is likely to endure as we enter spring.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.
