We’ll add more market news briefs throughout the day. Check back to read the latest.
Most recent market news
Thursday, November 2
- The 30-year fixed mortgage rate on Zillow Mortgages is currently 3.75 percent, down six basis points from this time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell throughout the week before settling around the current rate on Tuesday.
- The rate for a 15-year fixed home loan is currently 3.05 percent, and the rate for a 5-1 adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is 3.16 percent. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed loan is 3.96 percent.
Current rates for 30-year fixed mortgages by state
“After increasing to their highest levels since mid-July, mortgage rates retreated early this week to near where they were for much of the past month,” said Aaron Terrazas, senior economist at Zillow. “The emerging contours of tax reform proposals in Congress and continued speculation about who will be named the next chair of the Federal Reserve both helped pushed rates lower.
“Markets are waiting for an official Fed Chair nomination tomorrow and will also be watching Friday’s jobs report. Recent economic data have been strong and, the past few days aside, rates have been moving gradually higher.”
Zillow’s real-time mortgage rates are based on thousands of custom mortgage quotes submitted daily to anonymous borrowers on the Zillow Mortgages site and reflect the most recent changes in the market. These are not marketing rates, or a weekly survey.
News from earlier this week
Wednesday, November 1
The First American Real House Price Index (RHPI): August 2017 Real House Price Index
- Affordability increased in August due to a dip in rates.
- Real house prices decreased 0.4 percent between July and August.
- Real house prices increased 9.6 percent year-over-year.
- Consumer house-buying power, how much one can buy based on changes in income and interest rates, increased 0.8 percent between July and August, and fell 3.2 percent year-over-year.
- Real house prices are 38.4 percent below their housing-boom peak in July 2006 and 17.2 percent below the level of prices in January 2000.
- Unadjusted house prices increased by 6.1 percent in August on a year-over-year basis and are 4.2 percent above the housing boom peak in 2007.
“A dip in mortgage rates in August offset rapid price appreciation driven by the lack of supply, as existing homeowners remain reluctant to sell for fear of not being able to find something to buy. However, based on our RHPI, over the past 12 months affordability has declined by more than 9 percent,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American.
“Though consumer house-buying power improved in August, affordability is likely to fade as mortgage rates are expected to rise in the months to come, but lower affordability is only significant to potential first-time buyers. Existing homeowners with fixed-rate mortgages benefited from the rising prices with increased equity. If you’re renting and thinking of buying, then now is the time.
“As mortgage rates rise on the back of the last months’ FOMC decision to reduce its portfolio of bonds and supply remains constrained, affordability will continue to decline for those seeking to achieve the goal of homeownership. Yet, while affordability is lower than a year ago, it remains high by historic standards. Only three states and the District of Columbia are less affordable today than they were in January 2000.”
Email market reports to press@inman.com.