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.
According to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey of more than 8,000 real estate respondents, one in four home sales faced a settlement delay in December 2019. Seventy-one percent closed on time and four percent were canceled altogether. The biggest reasons cited for a delayed closing were issues related to financing (37%), appraisal issues (19%), and home inspection/environmental issues (17%).
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 15:
For the month of January:
All comparisons are to 2019
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.
For 2020, the National Association of REALTORS’ Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, sees good news for home prices.