November 20, 2022
This past year, rising mortgage rates have slowed the red-hot housing market. Over the past nine months, we’ve seen fewer homes sold than the previous month as home price growth has slowed. All of this is due to the fact that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has doubled this year, severely limiting homebuying power for consumers. And, this month, the average rate for financing a home briefly rose over 7% before coming back down into the high 6% range. But we’re starting to see a hint of what mortgage interest rates could look like next year.
As long as inflation is high, we’ll see higher mortgage rates. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen indications that inflation may be cooling, giving us a glimpse into what may happen in the future. The mortgage market is eagerly awaiting positive news on inflation. As Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, says:
"The housing market is expected to face continued uncertainty heading into 2023 as consumers, financial markets, and policymakers work through their respective challenges in today’s economy. . . . we are watching for any additional stability in the MBS market, signs of cooling inflation, and/or less aggressive Federal Reserve action to give us confidence that mortgage rates are past their peak."
As we get through the inflation battle and start to see that coming down, we should expect mortgage rates to follow. We’ve seen nods of this over the past couple of weeks. As the Federal Reserve works to bring inflation down, mortgage rates will come down as well. Bill McBride from Calculated Risk says:
"My current view is inflation will ease quicker than the Fed currently expects."
As we look toward next year, we certainly hope he’s right.
Mortgage rates will come down – it’s just a matter of time. The hope is we continue to see more positive news on inflation, and that’ll bring mortgage rates down. This will give prospective homebuyers more buying power and lead to more homeowners throughout the country.
September 26, 2023
Mortgage rates directly impact the monthly payment you’ll have on the home you purchase.
August 31, 2023
If you’ve been in your home for a while, you might have gained a considerable amount of equity, too.
August 30, 2023
Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the inflation and housing market.
August 29, 2023
The latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today.
August 28, 2023
Here’s some information you may find helpful on why and where your peers are buying.
August 23, 2023
If you’re thinking about selling your house, a strong job market, growing wages, and the resulting buyer demand is fantastic news.
August 17, 2023
Since most are paying on time, a wave isn’t coming.
August 16, 2023
More people are buying less expensive newly built homes right now while affordability remains a challenge.
August 15, 2023
There aren’t many homeowners who are seriously behind on their mortgage payments.
We’re here to work alongside you to help you make informed decisions when buying or selling your home or investment. Contact us to get started today.