What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 23, 2016

Last week's economic news included the NAHB Housing Market Index, reports on housing starts, building reports and existing home sales. Minutes of the Federal Reserve's last FOMC meeting were also released. Homebuilder Confidence Unchanged, Housing Starts and Building Permits Increase The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that builder confidence held steady with a reading of 58 in May. Analysts projected a reading of 58 and April's reading was also 58. Builder confidence in market conditions could be slowing due to concerns over acquiring skilled labor and a shortage of developed lots. Demand for homes remains high, but a…
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Existing Home Sales Jump, Builder Confidence Holds Steady

Home buyers kicked the spring home shopping season into gear and boosted sales of pre-owned homes in March. Existing home sales rose 5.10 percent in March according to the National Association of Realtors®. 5.33 million pre-owned homes were sold in March against expectations of 5.30 million sales and February's reading of 5.07 million sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. Demand for homes remains strong in spite of rapidly escalating prices in many areas. Short supplies of available homes continue to drive demand and home prices. Sales rose only 1.50 percent year-over-year, but during the first quarter of 2016, existing…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 29, 2015

Last week's economic news was largely positive as both new and existing home sales beat expectations. FHFA reported that home price growth held steady in May, while weekly jobless claims edged up, but were lower than expected. New and Existing Home Sales Exceed Expectations According to the Commerce Department, new home sales reached 546,000 on an annual basis for May. This surpassed expectations for 525,000 new homes sold and April's revised reading of 534,000 new homes sold. Expectations were based on the original reading of 517,000 new homes sold in April. Existing home sales rose by 5.10 percent in May…
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