Minnesota Homes Today Local & National News

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 27, 2017

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Last week’s readings on new and existing home sales provided further evidence of strengthening housing markets. Both categories of home sales exceeded December’s readings. Consumer sentiment was lower in February than for January and average rates were mixed with fixed rates higher and the rate for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages lower. Consumer sentiment lower in February.

New and Previously–owned Home Sales Higher in January

Home sales volume rose in January regardless of obstacles including higher mortgage rates and rising home prices. The National Association of Realtors® reported more sales of pre-owned homes in January. 5.69 million homes were sold on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis in January, which surpassed expectations of 5.57 million sales and December’s reading of 5.51 million sales of previously-owned homes.

New home sales also rose in January. 555,000 new home sales were reported, which fell short of 586,000 new home sales expected. 535,000 new homes were sold in December.

Mortgage Rates Mixed

Mortgage rates have traditionally been tied to the performance of 10-year Treasury notes, but this connection may be weakening due to uncertainty about current economic influences. Freddie Mac reported that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage rose one basis point to 4.16 percent; the average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage rose two basis points to 3.37 percent and the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage dropped two basis points 3.16 percent. Discount points averaged 0.50 percent for fixed rate mortgages and 0.40 percent for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages.

New Jobless claims also rose last week; 244,000 new claims were filed as compared to expectations of 237,000 new claims and the prior week’s revised reading of 238,000 new claims. The weekly reading for new jobless claims remained below the benchmark of 3000 new claims. The less volatile four-week rolling average of new claims filed reached its lowest level since July 1973 and fell by 4,000 new claims to 241,000 new claims filed. Layoffs remain low, so week-to-week variances in new jobless claim filed do not necessarily indicate faltering job markets.

What‘s Next

This week’s economic news includes readings on pending home sales, Case-Shiller Housing Market Indices, pending home sales and inflation. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Are Going Down: Here’s What You Need to Know

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FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Are Going Down: Here's What You Need to KnowWith the announcement by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is set to reduce its rates, it’s an exciting time for many homeowners who are preparing to buy. If you’re shopping around for a home and are wondering how these changes to premiums may benefit you, here are some of the ins and outs of what this announcement means.

The Details On Lower Premiums

For homeowners who are taking out a mortgage that is insured by the government, the reduction in annual mortgage insurance premiums can be a great benefit associated with investing in a home. While this reduction will definitely help homeowners save money, it is not a significant enough amount to make a large difference in the overall cost of the home. However, it can be a more marked difference for those homeowners who are taking out a home loan for a larger amount.

How Big A Benefit?

While those who require a larger home loan can certainly see a little bit more savings by the end of the year, the amount saved for small-time borrowers may not be enough to stimulate home investment. According to Laurie Goodman of Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center, there are other things the FHA could offer that would be more beneficial to potential homeowners and would facilitate more investment in the housing sector. This reduction may be a benefit for those already set on buying, but it may not provide enough of an impetus for those who are on the fence.

Is It Time To Buy?

With mortgage rates set to rise and the benefit of the FHA’s reduction in rates, it’s an ideal time to buy for the homeowner with a solid credit history and a down payment. However, for those who are still considering their options and are struggling with credit issues, the FHA’s reduction may not be enough of a benefit to make it a worthwhile investment. Before making a decision, it’s important to sit down and determine if investing in a home is the right financial decision for you.

The reduction of mortgage insurance premiums by the FHA will result in money savings for the homebuyer, but it’s important to determine beforehand whether this will provide a significant enough benefit to invest. If you’re currently on the market for a home, contact your trusted mortgage professionals for more information.

5 Things Nobody Tells You About Selling Your First Home

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5 Things Nobody Tells You About Selling Your First HomeIt’s often so exciting to think of buying a new home that homeowners forget about the sale, but there are a lot of details involved in putting a home on the market. Whether you’re just considering selling or are readying to put your home up, here are some things you might not know about the process.

Marketing Strategy Is Important

The days of putting a sign on the front yard and waiting for buyers are gone, so it’s important to have a strategy that will successfully highlight your house. Whether you decide to make a website, use social media or invest in a professional photographer, ensure you’re prepared to put your home out there.

The Right Price Is Everything

You have the ability to change your asking price at any time, but it’s best to hit the market with a price that is both reasonable and competitive. This will not only prevent your home from lingering on the market, it will make it more likely you’ll get the offer you’re looking for.

Fixing It Up Is Important

You might want to avoid minor fix-ups before selling your home, but maintenance issues can impact the offers you’ll receive. Instead of leaving these for the next homeowner, put time aside to do paint touch-ups, repair doors or insulate the windows so the small things don’t affect your offer.

Prepare To Pack

It’s great to receive an offer on your home, but packing up can be one of the most stressful aspects of moving. Instead of leaving this to the last minute, do some preliminary ‘spring cleaning’ to discard the stuff you won’t use and pack up the stuff you won’t soon need. This will make moving out a little smoother.

Be Ready For An Open House

It can be a pain to stage your home and leave on short notice to accommodate an interested homebuyer, but a good open house is one of your best bets for selling your home. This means your house should be clean and clutter free all the time so only a few last-minute fix-ups will be required.

There are a lot of things involved in selling your first home, but by completing the little fix ups and choosing the right price, you’ll be well on your way to an interested buyer.

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