Warning sign? sales drop 34%, impact on real estate

Warning sign? sales drop 34%, impact on real estate

The economy is currently in a “transition” phase.  To determine if the sun is setting on our current cycle, it is critical to watch for leading indicators of where we might be heading.  One of the strongest predictors of a recession is consumer purchases of one...
Job gains shatter expectation; impact on real estate

Job gains shatter expectation; impact on real estate

The economists forecasting the jobs data missed big time, with the recent jobs report almost double their predictions.  Why is job growth still surging while interest rates hit 20 year highs.  What does this mean for future interest rate increases?  Does this change...
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...
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,...
Big changes to Freddie seasoning requirements: how will this impact the housing market

Big changes to Freddie seasoning requirements: how will this impact the housing market

Beginning in March of 2023, Freddie Mac, the largest buyer of mortgages is drastically changing the seasoning requirements for any loans it purchases which basically means any new conventional conforming loan will have to follow the new rules.  What big changes are...
30 year mortgage rates plummet, will they return to pandemic lows

30 year mortgage rates plummet, will they return to pandemic lows

It has been a wild ride in the treasury market.  Rates spiked to 7.5%, but recently have plummeted back to below 6%? Now they are rising again.  What does this mean for real estate sales?  Will the lower rates be enough to turn around the slowing market?  Will rates...