Harder for Borrowers to Secure a Loan in February, Credit Availability Hits record low

Harder for Borrowers to Secure a Loan in February, Credit Availability Hits record low

As a private lender, my call volume and closings the first quarter have been off the charts as borrowers fall out of more conventional products.  This trend is now playing out with the Mortgage Credit Availability Index showing substantial tightening of credit for all...
Blowout jobs report; mortgage rates to jump again; Is 8% on the horizon?

Blowout jobs report; mortgage rates to jump again; Is 8% on the horizon?

Wow, a few weeks ago rates had fallen from a peak of over 7% to almost 6%. Unfortunately the party was short lived as rates are now heading much higher.  The recent jobs report was another blow out upping the odds of another half point increase at the next Fed...
Mortgage demand plunges 13.2% to end 2022, are higher interest rates the only culprit

Mortgage demand plunges 13.2% to end 2022, are higher interest rates the only culprit

  The market currently has a fixation on interest rates.  Essentially whatever interest rates do the market reacts accordingly.  For example if rates rise, sales fall and vice versa.  Are rates really the driver of the slow down in real estate sales?  If rates...
4 big changes to real estate in 2023.  Where will the opportunities be?

4 big changes to real estate in 2023.  Where will the opportunities be?

There is definitely allot of doom and gloom heading into 23 with interest rates double their lows, inventory increasing, and prices coming off their highs. In every cycle there will be winners and losers. Where will the real estate opportunities be? Are their certain...
National Association of Realtors predicts rising prices in 2023; fed predicts drop

National Association of Realtors predicts rising prices in 2023; fed predicts drop

In 2023, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun expects home sales to decline by 7%, while the national median home price will increase by 1% in his recent 2023 market update.  On the flip side the most recent federal reserve economic commentary classifies the current...
Will the golden handcuffs of low rates save real estate in this cycle?

Will the golden handcuffs of low rates save real estate in this cycle?

The prevailing theory is that this real estate cycle will be considerably better than others as so many people locked in rock bottom rates which will serve as “golden handcuffs” and prevent a meaningful increase in inventory.  How accurate is this theory?  What is the...