Equity is the difference between what you owe on your house and what it’s worth. So, when home prices are growing, equity is too. And with the recent spike in home prices, equity has surged. In fact, according to Black Knight’s most recent Mortgage Monitor Report, tappable equity – the amount available for homeowners to …
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index is based on a monthly survey gauging Americans’ feelings about the housing market and the overall economy. It asks respondents for their opinions about buying and selling a home, mortgage rates, home prices, their jobs, and financial situation. In August, the index was largely unchanged from the month before. …
The typical home buyer doesn’t spend much time considering the price of gypsum products or ready-mix concrete. But the prices builders pay for building materials have an effect on buyers – even if they aren’t shopping for a new home. That’s because new home construction is the fastest way to boost inventory. And, when there …
There are many gauges of U.S. home prices but the S&P Case-Shiller Indices is among the most closely followed. The index is constructed to accurately track the price path of a typical single-family home in each of the nine U.S. Census divisions. According to the most recent release, home prices are still increasing and the …
For most of the past year, average mortgage rates have hovered at, or just above, historic lows. Favorable rates helped home buyers at a time when prices and bidding wars were on the rise. But while low rates were good for buyers, they were also good for homeowners who wanted to refinance their loans. The …
