Getting ahead of the market Today we’re featuring insights and tips to help buyers prepare to enter the market, whether that day is coming soon, or further down the line. Last week the Federal Reserve raised rates by .25% again, the 10th rate hike in a row. For homebuyers, the immediate impact was limited as the […]
buying
Will April price drops bring May buyers
Searching for a 5.5% rate Recently released March housing data shows exactly how much of a roller coaster homebuyers have been on so far this year. While existing home sales increased over 13% in February, the uptick in rates we saw last month resulted in a 2.4% decrease for March. What about prices, you might ask? Well, the median […]
Buyers are back in the market
Market forces push and pull on mortgage rates The combination of the Fed’s efforts to combat rising inflation and uncertainty in the banking sector are having a push and pull effect on mortgage rates. This week the Fed raised the Federal Funds rate by .25%, making it nine rate increases in a row. While the Fed’s move […]
Strong jobs report, slowing home price growth
Jobs numbers remain strong, home price growth slows Mortgage rates rose again on a weekly basis, but we saw some improvement towards the end of this week. This comes on the heels of a February jobs report that was strong, but cooler than January’s report, which stoked greater concern around inflation. While small, the rate improvement is encouraging for buyers […]
A look at the current mortgage market
The year kicked off on a more positive note, as many buyers, sellers, realtors and loan officers were encouraged by a downward trend in mortgage rates and signs of waning inflation. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen rates zig-zag again, with volatility returning as the market tries to make sense of mixed signals around […]
Mortgage rate fluctuation return, but buyers remain active
Rates were volatile this week as the market adjusted to a range of mixed signals. The 1-2 punch of a lower Fed interest rate hike and strong jobs data sent rates back up this week, following a month of steady downward movement. This is driven to some extent by uncertainty around inflation – while the […]
Mortgage applications jump as buyer optimism returns
Buyer energy has returned to the market with benchmarks showing mortgage rates hitting some of their lowest levels since September in the past week. While they have ticked up again over the past few days, reflecting continued rate volatility in the market, some signs show that buyer optimism has renewed.
Positive signs in the housing market as rates dip
January is looking brighter for homebuyers Newly released data shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 6.5% annually, reflecting a dip in the inflation we’ve seen over the past year. While inflation remains elevated, this marks two months of positive signs. So what does this mean for homebuyers? On the whole, a few moderately positive indicators […]
Looking ahead to 2023
Looking ahead to 2023. What homebuyers should know as 2022 comes to a close.
Lower rates at last?
Inflation shows some improvement, but how does it impact homebuyers?
Where are home prices headed?
Experts look ahead to 2023, but conditions are tough to predict Heading towards the end of the year, we’re seeing a lot of discussion around home prices, along with projections on where they may be headed in the coming months. The National Association of Realtors’ Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, believes that prices will remain relatively […]
The Fed’s rate hike: a guide for homebuyers
The market is changing quickly, as the Fed raises rates again. What to do: focus on Affordability, don’t panic, know your options.
What to expect with rates as a volatile market adjusts
Rates rise again, but volatility remains a constant Even as competition and inventory constraints loosen things up a bit, rising rates have kept affordability a challenge for buyers. We’ve seen significant volatility recently, not just in the wake of a much-expected rate hike from the Federal Reserve, but from world economic events like those surrounding the […]
The upside to higher rates
July 29, 2022. The new normal. We saw new data from the National Association of Realtors that purchase contracts dropped by 8.6% in June – the lowest since 2011. We also saw the Federal Reserve raise interest rates again in a continued effort to curb inflation.
Affordable homes in 2022? Yes – in these markets
What does affordability mean to you? A list of the “Top 10 Affordable Cities for Middle-Class Homebuyers” certainly sounds promising for homebuyers chasing affordability – but what does that actually mean?
National Homeownership Month: 5 tips for Homebuyers in a Competitive Market
Homeownership is an enduring component of the American Dream – a benchmark Americans have measured success and well-being against for years. June marks the celebration of National Homeownership Month (NHM), dedicated to honoring those notions and celebrating the ways homeownership benefits families and communities across America.
More Loan Options, In More Places
From day one, we’ve strived to give homebuyers a single point of access to the mortgage market. So we’re excited to share significant progress toward that vision with the expansion of Morty’s product offerings and coverage area! Homebuyers can now find jumbo loan options and loans for investment properties in our online marketplace. Additionally, Morty […]
The Morty Report: Welcome Aboard
March 25, 2022. I’ll share my take on what’s happening in homebuying. My goal is to cut through the noise and share takeaways to help you to make informed decisions.
These Paint Colors Can Add Thousands to a Home’s Pricetag
Hoping to add a few dollars to the selling price of your current home? Then it might be time to break out the rollers, brushes, and painter’s tape. According to a recent study by the folks at Zillow, painting your front door a particular color can increase your home’s selling price by more than $6,000. […]
Your Final Walkthrough: What to Look For and When to Put on the Brakes
You’re almost there, future homeowner! You’ve made a successful offer and sorted out your financing. Your future home appraised well, and it cleared a title search. Now, it’s time for your final walkthrough: one last look around before you officially close this deal. The point of a final walkthrough is to check that the home […]