The largest buyer of mortgages not buying a soft landing; what are mortgage rates in 2024?

The largest buyer of mortgages not buying a soft landing; what are mortgage rates in 2024?

Both the stock and bond markets are partying like its 99 again. Fannie Mae, the largest buyer of US mortgages, is not buying into the theory that a soft landing is the base case for the economy.  What is Fannie Mae predicting for inflation and in turn interest rates? ...
New Senate bill, predatory investing, to curb corporate investors from buying up single-family homes

New Senate bill, predatory investing, to curb corporate investors from buying up single-family homes

Lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at curtailing investor activity in the housing market that they say is driving up home prices. The Stop Predatory Investing Act is targeting single family investors.  What is in the newly proposed bill and how will this impact...
Why do consumers keep spending and how does this impact real estate

Why do consumers keep spending and how does this impact real estate

According to a recent Federal Reserve Report, fourteen million mortgages were refinanced during the COVID refinance boom, and these refinances will have effects on the mortgage market, real estate, and the general economy for years to come. An astonishing 430 billion...
Rising Rates increase Distressed Homeowners. Regulators have a fix.

Rising Rates increase Distressed Homeowners. Regulators have a fix.

I always cringe when I see a press release that “regulators” have a solution!  FHA has yet another new proposal that sounds great on the surface, but as typical misses some very important items that will cost taxpayers millions or considerably more as government...
Wages continue higher, productivity falls fastest in 75 years, impact on real estate, inflation, and rates

Wages continue higher, productivity falls fastest in 75 years, impact on real estate, inflation, and rates

US labor productivity tumbled by 7.5% in the first quarter of 2023 – the largest decline in worker output per hour since 1947, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.  What does declining productivity mean for interest rates, commercial and residential...
Home Depot slides, house prices stabilize, consumers will keep spending

Home Depot slides, house prices stabilize, consumers will keep spending

  Interesting times we are in.  Consumers keep spending big on services like travel and eating out, but on the flip side Home Depot just reported its first drop since the pandemic.  On the other hand Target tops earnings estimates.  What is driving the continued...