what’s up with the crazy housing market?

what’s up with the crazy housing market?

It’s still a seller’s market, whether it feels that way or not.

In May, the median price of a home in the United States passed $400,000 for the first time, according to the National Association of Realtors. And bidding wars accounted for 55 percent of home sales in the four week period ending June 19, up from 53 a year earlier, according to Redfin.

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metro denver the second most competitive housing market in country after bay area

metro denver the second most competitive housing market in country after bay area

Denver’s housing market was the second most competitive out of the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, with seven in 10 homes selling for above the list price in April, according to a new report from OJO Labs.

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financial planning for young adults: mortgage basics and tips for buying your first home

financial planning for young adults: mortgage basics and tips for buying your first home

Are you tired of renting? Are you considering purchasing your first home? Do you dream of owning a house that can provide both you and your family a sense of stability and community?

For many Americans, home ownership is an important part of the American dream. Being a homeowner means having a space to call your own and a place where you belong. It also means being a part of a community. Owning a home may provide other financial benefits, such as the ability to build wealth through home equity, and potentially lower housing costs and savings over the cost of renting.

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homeowners and buyers are the real winners in this election

homeowners and buyers are the real winners in this election

For homebuyers, consistently low rates over the past several months, and the almost weekly prospect of rates falling even lower, have only fueled already strong demand. After a very brief pause at the start of the pandemic, buyers came rushing back, looking for a safe haven as well as larger spaces for working and schooling from home.

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record low mortgage rates in 2020

record low mortgage rates

Over the past several weeks, Freddie Mac has reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping to record lows, all the way down to 3.03%. Last week’s reported rate reached the lowest point in the history of the survey, which dates back to 1971 (See graph below):

mortgage rates in 2020

What does this mean for buyers?

This is huge for homebuyers. Those currently taking advantage of the increasing affordability that comes with historically low-interest rates are winning big. According to Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac:

“The summer is heating up as record low mortgage rates continue to spur homebuyer demand.”

In addition, move.com notes:

“Summer home buying season is off to a roaring start. As buyers flooded into the market, realtor.com® monthly traffic hit an all-time high of 86 million unique users in June 2020, breaking May’s record of 85 million unique users. Realtor.com® daily traffic also hit its highest level ever of 7 million unique users on June 25, signaling that despite the global pandemic buyers are ready to make a purchase.”

Clearly, buyers are capitalizing on today’s low rates. As shown in the chart below, the average monthly mortgage payment decreases significantly when rates are as low as they are today.

mortgage rates in 2020

A lower monthly payment means savings that can add up significantly over the life of a home loan. It also means that qualified buyers may be able to purchase more home for their money. Maybe that’s a bigger home than what they’d be able to afford at a higher rate, an increasingly desirable option considering the amount of time families are now spending at home given today’s health crisis.

Bottom Line

If you’re in a position to buy a home this year, let’s connect to initiate the process while mortgage rates are historically low.


what you need to know about private mortgage insurance (PMI)

what you need to know about private mortgage insurance (PMI)

Whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts when it comes to buying a home. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase homes with down payments below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

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