January 9, 2020
Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in thirteen weeks, as investors sought the quality and safety of the U.S. Treasury fixed income markets. The drop in mortgage rates, combined with the strong labor market, should propel a continued rise in homebuyer demand.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.
Data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and the National Association of Home Builders shows that 62.5 percent of all new construction homes started in 2018 were built as part of a community or homeowner’s association, up from 47.6% in 2009. These associations are typically created when the developments are built to maintain common areas of the developments and to enforce private deed restrictions, which often detail requirements for the exterior appearance and upkeep of properties.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 28:
For the month of November:
All comparisons are to 2018
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.
January 2, 2020
The combination of improved economic data and market sentiment has led to stability in mortgage rates, which have hovered around 3.7 percent for nearly the last two months. The stability is welcome news after the interest rate turbulence of the last year, which caused a slowdown in the housing market and other interest rate sensitive sectors. The low mortgage rate environment combined with the red-hot labor market is setting the stage for a continued rise in home sales and home prices.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.
As we close out the last weeks of the year, both buyers and sellers turn their focus from the transacting of homes to preparations for celebrating the holidays with their family and friends. Renewed interest by both buyers and sellers will come in the New Year and with it, the expectations for a strong housing market in 2020.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 21:
For the month of November:
All comparisons are to 2018
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.
Prices increased in year-over-year comparisons, and this will likely remain the case for the rest of the year.
December 26, 2019
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate saw little change again this week and averaged just 3.9% during 2019, the fourth lowest annual average since 1971 when Freddie Mac started its weekly survey.
Heading into 2020, low mortgage rates and the improving economy will be the major drivers of the housing market with steady increases in home sales, construction and home prices. While the outlook for the housing market is bright, worsening housing affordability is no longer a coastal phenomenon and is spreading to many interior markets and it is a threat to the continued recovery in housing and the economy.
Information provided by Freddie Mac.