Inventory at Historic Lows, Majority of Homes for Sale are at the High End

There are almost 9 percent fewer homes on the market than a year ago, and the majority of them are ones first-time buyers can't afford

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http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-04-26-Inventory-at-Historic-Lows-Majority-of-Homes-for-Sale-are-at-the-High-End

Amazon Effect: HQ2 Would Spur the Biggest Rent Hikes in Nashville and Denver

If Amazon builds its second headquarters in Nashville, rents would rise an additional 2.4 percentage points each year, according to a new Zillow analysis

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http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-04-26-Amazon-Effect-HQ2-Would-Spur-the-Biggest-Rent-Hikes-in-Nashville-and-Denver

Homes in Formerly Redlined Areas Trailing in Value

The typical home in an area given a "hazardous" rating in the 1930s is worth 85 percent of the median value of surrounding homes today

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http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-04-25-Homes-in-Formerly-Redlined-Areas-Trailing-in-Value

Pending Home Sales Post Modest Gains; Mortgage Rates Mostly Sideways to Begin Busy Week

Mortgage rates didn't move much today , which keeps them right in line with last week's lowest levels. That sounds pretty good! Unfortunately, any time prior to last week, those "lowest levels" would have been the highest in more than 4 years. To make things simple , look at like this: rates didn't move more than an eighth of a percentage point (.125) for most of March and early April (lenders typically divide rate sheet offerings in 1/8th increments). Last week brought rates a quarter of a point (.25) higher at its worst, and now we've recovered about an eighth. In other words, we're right in between the March plateau and last week's highs. The rest of this week brings several important economic reports including Friday's big jobs report (The Employment Situation, aka "Nonfarm Payrolls").

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/4/30/3341

CFPB Finalizes TRID Revisions; Census Report Confirms Tight Housing (Thanks Census!); Rates Recover

Mortgage rates moved lower again today , bringing them back in line with Monday's levels for the average lender. That said, rate sheets have been very stratified between lenders during the recent spat of volatility. In other words, even if 2 lenders were similarly-priced on Monday, they might not be today. Compared to Wednesday (highest rates this week), today's rates are nearly an eighth of percent lower. The improvement in bond markets (which underlie rates) was somewhat serendipitous in the sense that there was no overt motivation in terms of economic data or news headlines. That's not to say there were no big economic reports (indeed, the first reading of Q1 GDP was released this morning)--just that they didn't elicit a big response in bonds. Loan Originator Perspective Bonds caught a second

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http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/4/27/3339

Mortgage Rates Catch a Break; HUD Proposes Rent Increases

Mortgage rates caught a break today , as underlying bond markets made it back into Tuesday's territory. Refreshingly, lenders were willing to set rates back at Tuesday's levels. That may sound exceedingly logical considering bond markets dictate rate movements, but it's an exception to the recent rule that's seen lenders err on the side of caution when it comes to following every little movement in bonds. In other words, lenders have been quick to raise rates when bonds are weaker and slow to bring them back down when bonds recover. That makes today something of an opportunity for anyone who wished they'd locked their rate on Tuesday. Simply put, now you can! These sorts of recoveries are tricky business from a forecasting perspective. Of course there's a temptation to hope for more when we

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http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/4/26/3337

Top Still Not in For Rates; Buyers Looking, but Tough Market; Mortgage Apps Slide

Mortgage rates had another rough day as they continued moving up into new 4-year highs. Unlike the extremely mild and uneventful day-to-day changes seen for most of the past 2 months, rates are actually putting some distance between themselves and the March plateau. Whereas a well-qualified borrower with 25% down may have been quoted a conventional 30yr fixed rate of 4.5% a few weeks ago, they'd already be looking at 4.75% today for most lenders. Of course this can vary a bit from lender to lender, but the point is that all lenders have experienced that sort of delta. Will it ever stop? Yo! I don't know! Actually I do know. The answer is yes, but I don't know when. Rates could (and SHOULD, if we're being honest) continue even higher from here . They may not do so in a straight line, but barring

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/4/25/3335