MORTGAGE RATES

Jan 03 2025BUSINESS

Home Loan Costs Creep Toward 7% as 2024 Ends

As 2024 draws to a close, mortgage rates are on the rise again. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is now just below 7%, the highest it's been in six months. This increase comes despite the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut. The central bank, however, is less optimistic about further cuts this year due to persistent inflation and a strong job market. Mortgage ra...

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Dec 31 2024BUSINESS

Houses Stay Longer on Market in Late 2024

As we wrap up 2024, the housing market has seen a growth in supply, but there's a catch. Many homes have been on the market for quite a while without finding buyers, a trend not seen since 2019. In November 2024, active listings were up by 12. 1% compared to the same month in 2023, hitting the highest level since 2020, according to a report by Redfin. Over half of th...

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Dec 19 2024BUSINESS

Home Sales Jump in November, but Investors Pause

November saw a surprising boost in home sales, with a 4. 8% increase compared to October. This puts sales at an impressive 4. 15 million units annually, according to the National Association of Realtors. The best part? This is a 6. 1% rise from last year, making it the third-highest pace of the year. This good news comes from contracts signed in September and Octobe...

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Nov 27 2024FINANCE

Housing Loan Limits Are Going Up Next Year

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has decided to raise the maximum amount they'll guarantee for single-family home loans, starting in 2025. This change reflects the increasing prices of homes across the country. From January, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can now back loans of up to $806, 500 for homes in most places. That's a 5. 2% increase from this year's limit, sho...

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Nov 22 2024BUSINESS

October Brings Good News for Homebuyers

Good news for those hunting for a home! In October, the number of existing homes sold jumped by 3. 4%. This is the first time in three years that sales have gone up from one year to the next. Experts say this might be the end of the home sales slump. There were more homes up for grabs compared to last year, which could explain why more people were able to buy. Even t...

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Nov 15 2024BUSINESS

Mortgage Rates in the US Drop: What Does It Mean?

Hey there! Did you know that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage in the US just dropped a bit? It went from 6. 79% to 6. 78%, ending a six-week rise. Why is this happening? Well, mortgage rates are like a mirror reflecting the 10-year Treasury bond yields, which have recently been bouncing around. Just last week, these bond yields jumped because of expectations ...

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Nov 14 2024BUSINESS

The Housing Market Hits Pause: What's Up with Mortgage Rates?

You might be wondering what's happening in the housing market lately. Well, mortgage rates have been on the rise, and it seems like everyone is taking a moment to think about what this means. Last week, mortgage rates jumped to their highest point since July. This increase happened as investors started to think about what a Trump presidency could mean for the economy...

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Sep 20 2024BUSINESS

Mortgage Rates Take a Sudden Leap Down

The mortgage market is experiencing a rare bout of optimism as interest rates plummeted to their lowest level since early 2023. This unexpected development has sparked hope among potential homebuyers who have been waiting on the sidelines for the perfect moment to make a move. Freddie Mac announced that the standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.09% in the w...

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Sep 17 2024FINANCE

Will the Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Cuts Bring a Soft Landing?

The Federal Reserve is on the verge of announcing a series of interest rate cuts, which could have a significant impact on the economy. The decision to cut rates comes after a long period of steady increases, which had left borrowing expensive and made it difficult for consumers and businesses to invest. The Fed's goal is to achieve a "soft landing," where it slows d...

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Sep 16 2024FINANCE

Will the Fed's Rate Cuts Deliver a 'Soft Landing' for the Economy?

The Federal Reserve is poised to make a big move this week: cutting its key interest rate from a two-decade peak. Will this be enough to deliver a "soft landing" for the economy, or is it just a quick fix? The economy is a complex beast, and predicting its future is like trying to shoot a moving target. But one thing is certain: businesses and consumers are waiting ...

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