Mortgage Rates Hold Firm Another Week – 3.10%
The Fed cut bond buying and may raise interest rates soon. But the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage isn’t affected so far, down .01% from last week’s average.
Buying a Fixer-Upper? Some Raw Materials Hard to Find
Buyers planning to fix up an existing home face the same challenges new-home builders do: Expensive or hard-to-find items, such as appliances or lumber.
Are At-Risk Homeowners Better Off Selling?
In some cases, owners exiting forbearance can’t afford their home. But with rising values, many can still sell, turn a small profit and not harm a strong credit score.
Video Tools That Win Buyers’ Attention
Good, shareable video can expand a listing’s reach, but it’s underutilized by buyers’ agents. However, some private vendors can help video-averse agents.
Buyer Preferences for Home and Work Have Changed
Survey: Long-held ideas about work, home and commute times have been upended, and 41% of Americans would take a pay cut to live in a more affordable location.
Home Equity Lines of Credit Could Return in 2022
Mortgage rates have been so low that most homeowners refinance and take out cash for home improvement projects. But that could change when rates start to move up.
Some Credit Scores Could Move 80 Points Higher
A study to find the impact of new credit score data – rent and utility payments – found the biggest boost for consumers who haven’t used credit in at least six months.
1 of 3 Opportunity Zone Tax Breaks Ends Dec. 31
A 10% capital-gains tax reduction for properties owned at least five years expires on Dec. 31 since future purchases won’t qualify for the five-year time minimum.
Suburbs Still Hot but Urban Demand Increasing
NAHB: During the pandemic, many city dwellers turned to suburban and exurb homes. The trend continues but less so as cities see a spike in buyer demand.
Too-Big-to-Fail Chinese RE Firm Creating Problems
Evergrande, a huge Chinese real estate firm, has a $310B mountain of debt. Collapse could create a housing crisis, but it’s unclear how China will handle it.