Thursday, May 25, 2023 / by Kenneth Brands
Feeling the pinch of inflation? You're not alone. From groceries to gas, prices are on the rise, and if you're a renter, you're likely feeling the sting as your monthly payments continue to climb. Amid escalating costs and potential recession fears, you might be questioning whether buying a home in the current economic climate is a wise move. The answer, quite simply, is yes. Here's why. Owning a home can act as a buffer against the escalating costs brought on by inflation. As Freddie Mac points out, "Buying a home today not only starts you on the path to building equity, but securing a fixed-rate mortgage can also lock in your monthly housing costs long-term, even as other living expenses continue to increase – a trend we've been seeing over the past few years."
Unlike rental costs, which typically increase over time, a fixed-rate mortgage payment remains constant throughout the mortgage term (usually 15 to 30 years). In an environment where prices are generally rising, maintm ...
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Monday, April 10, 2023 / by Kenneth Brands
The spring season appears to be warming up in housing as more and more buyers enter the market. And after rising mortgage rates sidelined so many buyers last year, that’s a good sign for sellers. Realtor.com has the latest:
“Spring is officially here, and like green shoots emerging from the bleak winter, new data suggests that more buyers are back in the market, although more subdued compared to a year ago.”
We know buyer activity is trending up because of mortgage purchase application data. According to Investopedia:
“A mortgage application is a document submitted to a lender when you apply for a mortgage to purchase real estate.”
That means the number of mortgage applications shows how many buyers are applying for mortgages. Put another way, an increase in mortgage applications means an increase in buyer demand – and as Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explains, application activity sta. ...
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Thursday, March 9, 2023 / by Kenneth Brands
Are you looking to purchase a home but not sure where to start? The process of finding a house can be overwhelming, but there are a few tips that will help make the journey smoother.
Know What You Can Afford– Before you can even begin your search for the perfect home, you should have an accurate idea of how much house you can realistically afford. It's important to consider factors such as your monthly income, down payment, closing costs, and other expenses before making any decisions. Any real estate agent at Biggs Realty can introduce you to several trusted local mortgage experts and help you get pre-approved.
Consider Your Needs– When searching for a home, it's important to look at what your needs are before deciding on any particular property. Ask yourself questions like: How much space do I need? Do I want a large yard or outdoor space? Do I need extra bedrooms or office space? What kind of amenities am I looking for? Answering these questions will help nar ...
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Saturday, December 24, 2022 / by Kenneth Brands
The 2022 housing market has been defined by two key things: inflation and rapidly rising mortgage rates. And in many ways, it's put the market into a reset position.
As the Federal Reserve (the Fed) made moves this year to try to lower inflation, mortgage rates more than doubled – something that’s never happened before in a calendar year. This had a cascading impact on buyer activity, the balance between supply and demand, and ultimately home prices. And as all those things changed, some buyers and sellers put their plans on hold and decided to wait until the market felt a bit more predictable.
But what does that mean for next year? What everyone really wants is more stability in the market in 2023. For that to happen we’ll need to see the Fed bring inflation down even more and keep it there. Here’s what housing market experts say we can expect next year.
What’s Ahead for Mortgage Rates in 2023?
Moving forward, experts a ...
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Friday, December 2, 2022 / by Kenneth Brands
This past year, rising mortgage rates have slowed the red-hot housing market. Over the past nine months, we’ve seen fewer homes sold than the previous month as home price growth has slowed. All of this is due to the fact that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has doubled this year, severely limiting homebuying power for consumers. And, this month, the average rate for financing a home briefly rose over 7% before coming back down into the high 6% range. But we’re starting to see a hint of what mortgage interest rates could look like next year.
Inflation Is the Enemy of Long-Term Interest Rates
As long as inflation is high, we’ll see higher mortgage rates. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen indications that inflation may be cooling, giving us a glimpse into what may happen in the future. The mortgage market is eagerly awaiting positive news on inflation. As Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, says:
“Th ...
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