Real Estate: November 2006
Home prices post record drop in October
Median price sinks 3.5 percent from a year earlier, trade group see more price declines ahead.
November 28 2006
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The price of existing homes sold in October fell for the third straight month and posted the biggest drop on record, an industry group said Tuesday, adding it expects weakness in pricing to drag on into next year.
The National Association of Realtors said that the median price of a home sold in October was $221,000, the same as in September, but down 3.5 percent from October 2005.
The previous record drop was a 2.1 percent decline in November 1990, the real estate group said. While month-to-month declines in home prices are not uncommon, year-to-year drops had been rare before the recent housing slump.
Last August was the first month in 11 years to see such a decline. September was originally reported as a record 2.2 percent drop, but a revision in those numbers put that price decline at 1.8 percent.
The weakness in home prices isn't likely to go away soon, according to Realtors spokesman Walter Molony. "We do expect we'll see prices stay below year-ago levels through the end of this year, and pick up in the first quarter of 2007," he said.
Pat Vredevoogd Combs, a Grand Rapids, Mich., Realtor and president of the trade group, said in a statement the the market has become a good one for buyers.
"With the exception of parts of the West, sellers are cutting their price enough to encourage sales," she said. A sharp drop in sales and prices in once-hot markets such as Washington D.C. and parts of Florida, coupled with improved sales in some lower-price markets in Texas, have driven median prices down 7 percent in the South.
But all four regions of the country posted a year-over-year decline in median prices. "A fourth of the nation - areas that had the biggest boom - is in a correction that will take longer to balance," she added.
By Chris Isidore Cnnmone.com
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Real Estate
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Real Estate
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Real Estate
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Bear market in housing futures
Trading in the Case Shiller indices say prices are heading down.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices fell from July to August in seven of the 10 major housing markets covered by the S&P Case Shiller indexes. The composite index for all 10 cities fell 0.36 percent.
But prices are heading down a lot more, if the investment pros who trade in housing futures can be believed.
Housing Futures based on the Case Shiller housing futures are speculating that housing prices will drop.
City IndexAug 06 FuturesAug 07 Projectedchange
Boston
177.29
167.0
-5.8
Chicago
167.99
158.0
-5.9
Denver
140.27
132.0
-5.9
Las Vegas
234.78
217.4
-7.4
Los Angeles
273.80
256.0
-6.5
Miami
276.80
254.6
-8.0
New York
212.93
198.4
-6.8
San Diego
247.30
232.2
-6.1
San Francisco
217.23
204.0
-6.1
Washington, DC
248.08
230.0
-7.3
Composite
225.17
208.8
-7.3
Source: Tradition Financial Services Note: All cities were assigned a base of 100 in 2000. An index of 177.90 means prices have risen 77.9 percent since then.
Housing futures based on the Case Shiller indexes and traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have predicted a decline in the 10 markets around the country of 7.3 percent from August 2006 to August 2007. Prices in all 10 cities are projected to fall.
The S&P CME Housing Futures and Options, launched this past spring, enable investors to hedge against a drop in the value of residential properties in the future or to bet that those values will go up.
Miami, according to the futures, will experience the steepest plummet at 8 percent, and prices in Boston, at minus 5.8 percent, will hold up the best.
"I've been poring over the data for a long time now, given the anecdotal information we've been reading about home prices," says Fritz Siebel, director of housing derivatives at Tradition Financial Services, an institutional brokerage that trades futures of the Case Shiller indices. "I think the latest price drops are significant. These are pretty big numbers."
One month does not a trend make but Siebel points out that because of the gap between contract signings and when the front door keys actually change hands, August prices reflect closing prices of sales initiated earlier in the year, when many believed the housing market was still truckin' along.
Since them, markets have probably fared worse. Says Siebel, "The underlying metrics of the market - inventory, rate of sales - have not cleared. I don't see it getting better soon."
Neither, it seems, do speculators.
If the predicted decline happens, however, it may not be as severe as the futures trading indicates. According to Robert Shiller, the co-creator of the indexes, there is a risk premium to be taken into account; at this point, more traders are interested in protecting themselves against loss than are interested in buying into a growing market. That imbalance drives down the futures prices.
In addition, the futures have been traded very thinly to date and the smaller the sample size, the greater is the margin for error. As the market in housing future trading expands, the accuracy of their predictive value should increase
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Real Estate
Now is a Good Time to Buy a Home
Are housing consumers suffering from some form of "market psychosis"?During the recent boom years in 2003-2005, sellers were calling the shots -- dictating prices and terms to multiple bidders who were knocking down their doors in many markets."Today, with the real estate market slowing in many parts of the country, all the market fundamentals show that buyers are now in the driver's seat," said Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"Consider the facts: prices are competitive, rates are low, the selection of homes is high in all price ranges and sellers are ready to bargain."So why are some prospective home buyers having second thoughts?
It appears emotions are overtaking common sense. For instance, many homeowners who are looking to sell and trade up to a better house are hesitating because the value of their current home may have dropped from peak levels.
"If my neighbor sold his house for $250,000 six months ago, why should I have to settle for $225,000 today?" But waiting out the market to recoup a $25,000 "loss" could prove to be a poor decision.
While the value of the buyer's house may have fallen, that so-called loss has probably already been more than offset by a reduction in the price of the home he is thinking about buying.
Furthermore, by waiting, he may lose out on the price advantage that currently exists.First-time home buyers who choose to "play it safe" and keep renting are essentially postponing the opportunity to build household wealth.
Currently, with rental vacancy rates tightening, they can probably expect to see an increase in the rent they pay. No one can accurately predict the peaks and valleys of the housing market.
If you try waiting for the absolute best deal, you could end up literally waiting for years, missing out on the opportunity to become a homeowner while prices are moderating.
Though local housing markets periodically adjust according to overall economic conditions, over the long term real estate has consistently appreciated. On a national level, home appreciation has historically risen 5-6 percent annually.
At that rate, the value of a home doubles every 13 years. Not only is homeownership a stepping stone to a future of financial security, it provides a permanent place to call home and enormous personal satisfaction. In today's housing market, the real risk is in waiting to buy a home.
We know that interest rates are low today. We know that home prices are leveling off and even down in some markets. We know that there are plenty of homes on the market to choose from. We know that sellers are willing to bargain. And we know that builders are willing to offer attractive incentives to get your business.Any or all of these favorable variables could change for the worse six months from today.
Alberto Pacheco
818 481 9211
Keller Williams Porter Ranch
www.stoppayingrentinla.com
My Email
Now is a Good Time to Buy a Home
Are housing consumers suffering from some form of "market psychosis"?During the recent boom years in 2003-2005, sellers were calling the shots -- dictating prices and terms to multiple bidders who were knocking down their doors in many markets."Today, with the real estate market slowing in many parts of the country, all the market fundamentals show that buyers are now in the driver's seat," said Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"Consider the facts: prices are competitive, rates are low, the selection of homes is high in all price ranges and sellers are ready to bargain."So why are some prospective home buyers having second thoughts?
It appears emotions are overtaking common sense. For instance, many homeowners who are looking to sell and trade up to a better house are hesitating because the value of their current home may have dropped from peak levels.
"If my neighbor sold his house for $250,000 six months ago, why should I have to settle for $225,000 today?" But waiting out the market to recoup a $25,000 "loss" could prove to be a poor decision.
While the value of the buyer's house may have fallen, that so-called loss has probably already been more than offset by a reduction in the price of the home he is thinking about buying.
Furthermore, by waiting, he may lose out on the price advantage that currently exists.First-time home buyers who choose to "play it safe" and keep renting are essentially postponing the opportunity to build household wealth.
Currently, with rental vacancy rates tightening, they can probably expect to see an increase in the rent they pay. No one can accurately predict the peaks and valleys of the housing market.
If you try waiting for the absolute best deal, you could end up literally waiting for years, missing out on the opportunity to become a homeowner while prices are moderating.
Though local housing markets periodically adjust according to overall economic conditions, over the long term real estate has consistently appreciated. On a national level, home appreciation has historically risen 5-6 percent annually.
At that rate, the value of a home doubles every 13 years. Not only is homeownership a stepping stone to a future of financial security, it provides a permanent place to call home and enormous personal satisfaction. In today's housing market, the real risk is in waiting to buy a home.
We know that interest rates are low today. We know that home prices are leveling off and even down in some markets. We know that there are plenty of homes on the market to choose from. We know that sellers are willing to bargain. And we know that builders are willing to offer attractive incentives to get your business.Any or all of these favorable variables could change for the worse six months from today.
Alberto Pacheco
818 481 9211
Keller Williams Porter Ranch
www.stoppayingrentinla.com
My Email
Friday, November 03, 2006
Real Estate
Homeowners with ARMs are optimistic
Homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages worry about rising interest rates, but most believe that they will be able to refinance their loans if necessary, according to a study released today. A survey of homeowners conducted for San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. found that about 1 in 7 respondents had an adjustable-rate mortgage.
An ARM is a mortgage whose interest rate is typically tied to a short-term security such as one-year Treasury bills or the London interbank offered rate, or Libor. The borrower's payments change over time with the adjusting interest rate.As home prices rose during the recent housing boom, an increasing number of home buyers turned to ARMs to purchase homes.
The reason: ARM rates were lower than those for traditional 30-year fixed mortgages. Lenders also devised ARM variations that gave borrowers even lower monthly payments by allowing deferment of principal and/or interest.Over the last year, fixed and adjustable mortgage rates have crept higher. Mortgage company Freddie Mac reported last week that the interest rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.40% in the most-recent survey period.
A year earlier, the rate was 6.15%. The Wells Fargo study found that nearly 80% of homeowners with ARMs said they were concerned about rate increases. But more than half said they believed that they could refinance their loans. And about 20% said they were prepared for rate adjustments and didn't plan any changes.
Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Assn. reported that the refinance share of mortgage applications increased to 45.6% from 45% the previous week. Wells Fargo's third annual study also found that homeowners expected their properties to appreciate, although they apparently were aware that price increases were slowing.
About 10% said they expected their home values to increase a lot, 53% said values would increase "a little," and 27% predicted they'd stay the same. The rest expected a decline or weren't sure. The survey of more than 1,300 homeowners was conducted by Media, Pa.-based ICR. The margin of error was about 3 percentage points.
From Times Staff and Wire Services
Homeowners with ARMs are optimistic
Homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages worry about rising interest rates, but most believe that they will be able to refinance their loans if necessary, according to a study released today. A survey of homeowners conducted for San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. found that about 1 in 7 respondents had an adjustable-rate mortgage.
An ARM is a mortgage whose interest rate is typically tied to a short-term security such as one-year Treasury bills or the London interbank offered rate, or Libor. The borrower's payments change over time with the adjusting interest rate.As home prices rose during the recent housing boom, an increasing number of home buyers turned to ARMs to purchase homes.
The reason: ARM rates were lower than those for traditional 30-year fixed mortgages. Lenders also devised ARM variations that gave borrowers even lower monthly payments by allowing deferment of principal and/or interest.Over the last year, fixed and adjustable mortgage rates have crept higher. Mortgage company Freddie Mac reported last week that the interest rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.40% in the most-recent survey period.
A year earlier, the rate was 6.15%. The Wells Fargo study found that nearly 80% of homeowners with ARMs said they were concerned about rate increases. But more than half said they believed that they could refinance their loans. And about 20% said they were prepared for rate adjustments and didn't plan any changes.
Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Assn. reported that the refinance share of mortgage applications increased to 45.6% from 45% the previous week. Wells Fargo's third annual study also found that homeowners expected their properties to appreciate, although they apparently were aware that price increases were slowing.
About 10% said they expected their home values to increase a lot, 53% said values would increase "a little," and 27% predicted they'd stay the same. The rest expected a decline or weren't sure. The survey of more than 1,300 homeowners was conducted by Media, Pa.-based ICR. The margin of error was about 3 percentage points.
From Times Staff and Wire Services
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)