Mortgage Debt Climbs to $15.8 Trillion

The Federal Reserve reported that outstanding U.S. mortgage debt increased 1.2% to $15.8 trillion in the third quarter of 2019 from Q2 2019. This increase represents the largest quarter-to-quarter gain in almost two years, much of which is due to the robust demand for...

PHSI Falls in December

The Pending Home Sale Index was released by the National Association of Realtors [NAR], marking a 4.9% decline in December to 103.2. The PHSI is a forward-looking indicator targeting market health. The NAR announcement indicated that year-over-year contract signings...

Mortgage Rates Fall Again

Freddy Mac reported that mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in three months. What is unusual is that December proved to be a very strong month for sales and increases in the median home price, especially in New Jersey. The average 30-year fixed-rate hit 3.6% for...

PROFITS – ROI Increases

One of the residual benefits of remaining in a home longer is the appreciation of the property. This is especially true in a strong market. Year-over-year, the average prices for homes nationwide have climbed significantly. The true benefit of the growth of homeowner...

Millennials Going Small

Getting into the market, specifically the real estate market, requires crossing a number of thresholds financial thresholds. For lenders, credit scores still play a big part of the process. Lenders differ, but most require a 620 score, with 580 representing the floor...