Federal government now considers $1.2m low/moderate income housing

Federal government now considers $1.2m low/moderate income housing

What do the increased conforming loan limits mean for real estate? The federal government (aka you the taxpayer) now backs mortgages up to 1.15m. The maximum size of home-mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has jumped sharply over the...
How will student loan restart impact real estate

How will student loan restart impact real estate

As part of a debt-ceiling agreement forged by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, monthly student loan bills will resume September first.  What does the restarting of student loans mean for real estate, interest rates, and the overall economy?  How...
Hot inflation puts further rate hike in play, impact on real estate

Hot inflation puts further rate hike in play, impact on real estate

Although the market rejoiced in the recent fed “skip”, as you dig into the numbers more the outcome is a lot less sanguine.  Why does inflation continue running hotter than anticipated?  What does this mean for interest rates and real estate?  What happens when...
New government rule radically changes appraisals

New government rule radically changes appraisals

Big changes are ahead for automated appraisals.  The government feels that automated models show bias in valuation so they have proposed a new rule that will radically alter appraisals.  Unfortunately, the new rules will have some large unintended consequences for...
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...
Soft landing, brace for a much better spring real estate market  

Soft landing, brace for a much better spring real estate market  

In only a couple of months, the world has changed substantially.  In December, inflation was supposedly decreasing rapidly and the odds of a soft landing were non existent.  Fast forward a few months and inflation is running hot, consumers are spending like crazy,...