28 Oct 2015
By Mark Feder

Case-Shiller: August Home Prices Accelerate

Market Outlook
According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index, U.S. home prices increased by 0.40 percent in August, which boosted year-over-year home price growth to 5.10 percent. Denver, Colorado continued to lead in home price gains with a monthly increase of 0.90 percent and a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent. San Francisco, California also posted a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent, but posted a month-to-month loss of -0.10 percent. Portland, Oregon posted a year-over-year gain of 9.40 percent with a month-to-month gain of 1.10 percent. Cities with the slowest growing home prices year-over-year included New York City with a reading of…
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26 Oct 2015
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 26, 2015

Market Outlook
Last week's economic news included the National Association of Home Builders Index, Housing Starts and FHFA's report on August home sales. The National Association of Realtors® released its monthly report on sales of previously owned homes. Builder Confidence and Housing Starts Post Gains The Wells Fargo National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for September posted its highest level of builder confidence in 10 years a higher than expected results with a reading of 64 for October. Analysts expected a reading of 62 based on September's reading of 61. The NAHB Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reading is based…
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23 Oct 2015
By Mark Feder

Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Hit Second Highest Level in 8 Years

Market Outlook
Housing markets show continued strength as the National Association of Realtors® reported that sales of existing homes reached their second highest level since February 2007. Sales of pre-owned homes increased by 4.70 percent and reached 5.55 million sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis against analyst expectations of 5.34 million sales and August's reading of 5.30 million sales of previously owned homes. August's reading for existing home sales was revised downward from 5.31 million sales. Economists said that August's lower than expected sales of existing homes may have been influenced by volatility in financial markets and concerns over mortgage rates…
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19 Oct 2015
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 19, 2015

Market Outlook
Last week's economic reports included Consumer Price Index and Core index for September, the minutes of the FOMC meeting held September 15 and 17, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. The details: FOMC Minutes Hint at Looming Rate Hike as Inflation Lags Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting held in September suggest that while Fed policy makers have reservations about low inflation and labor markets, they may go ahead and raise the target federal funds rate from its current range of 0.00 to 0.25 percent. When the fed does raise rates, consumers can expect…
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