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the morty report

A look at the current mortgage market

February 24, 2023 buying, rates, the morty report

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

February 10, 2023 affordability, buying, down payment, house hunting, rates, real estate, the morty report

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

January 27, 2023 affordability, buying, credit, rates, real estate, the morty report

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 18, 2023 affordability, buying, rates, the morty report

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

December 29, 2022 affordability, buying, house hunting, rates, the morty report

Looking ahead to 2023. What homebuyers should know as 2022 comes to a close.

Lower rates at last?

December 16, 2022 affordability, buying, house hunting, rates, the morty report

Inflation shows some improvement, but how does it impact homebuyers?

Where are home prices headed?

December 1, 2022 affordability, buying, house hunting, rates, real estate, the morty report

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

November 4, 2022 affordability, buying, mortgage, rates, the morty report

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

September 30, 2022 affordability, buying, rates, real estate, the morty report

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 Fed’s latest rate hike: here’s what homebuyers need to know

September 27, 2022 affordability, Federal Reserve, inflation, rate hike, rate volatility, rates, the morty report

You may have heard that the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by .75% on Wednesday. This rate controls how expensive it is for banks to borrow and lend from each other – which influences how much it costs for most consumers to borrow money, too.  What does this news mean for mortgage rates […]

Does homebuying have ‘seasons?’

September 26, 2022 affordability, First Time Homebuyers, rates, reader question, seasonality, the morty report

Seasons change, but do they change the market, too? Whether it’s the end of a lease or the start of a new job, there are often deadlines driving the home search. But regardless of what’s on the calendar, buyers almost always want to know about seasonality and whether it’s the “right” time of the year […]

The lowdown on low-down payment mortgages

September 19, 2022 conventional mortgage, down payment, fha loans, First Time Homebuyers, homeready, rates, the morty report, usda loan

The new Community Affordable Loan Solution, Bank of America’s “no-down” mortgage program, is only one of a growing number of no- and low-down payment mortgage options.

Getting it right the first time: simple steps for first-time homebuyers

September 12, 2022 credit score, down payment, Financial Planning, First Time Homebuyers, rates, the morty report

Three simple steps for first-time homebuyers to follow, especially in a competitive market

Are home prices *really* falling?

September 2, 2022 affordability, First Time Homebuyers, rates, rent or buy, selling, the morty report

Prices still projected to rise – but stable for now Recent real estate headlines might look a little bleak, with descriptions like “plunging” home prices and a “slumping” market. But are they really? Let’s start with the market: Yes, it’s cooling slightly, but no – it’s not as extreme as some might suggest. We have to […]

Will cooling inflation heat up the housing market?

August 12, 2022 inflation, rates, rent or buy, the morty report

Should you rent or buy? Rents have risen significantly in many cities, along with home prices and mortgage rates. But high rates don’t automatically make it a bad time to buy.

What the ‘new normal’ means for buyers

August 8, 2022 Fed, Federal Reserve, housing market, quick close advantage, rates, the morty report

August 5, 2022. What the market’s ‘new normal’ means for buyers. Mortgage rates dipped slightly even after the Fed raised interest rates again last week – further illustrating that the market is driven by a range of macroeconomic factors (and not solely by inflation).

The upside to higher rates

August 1, 2022 buying, down payment, housing crisis, housing market, mortgage rates, rent or buy, the morty report

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

July 22, 2022 affordability, buying, homeready, rates, the morty report

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?

Buyer power shifts as affordability falters

July 15, 2022 ARMs, closing date promise, closing programs, inflation, quick close advantage, rates, TBD locks, the morty report

July 15, 2022. Last month, nearly 15% of purchase agreements in the U.S. fell through before closing – a possible signal that buyers are gaining more negotiating power amid the market slowdown.

To buy or not to buy: What rising rates mean for new construction loans

June 30, 2022 affordability, float-down options, new build, new construction, rate locks, rates, the morty report

June 30, 2022. We’ve seen an increase in new construction loans recently as inventory remains at historic lows. But what happens if you were counting on 3% mortgage rates when they signed a contract over a year ago to purchase a home that still isn’t ready today?

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Morty is a licensed mortgage broker. NMLS ID # 1429243. NMLS Consumer Access. All loans originated by Morty are funded by third party lenders. Morty, Inc. is authorized to do business as “Morty” in certain states. Morty is an equal housing lender.

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