What to Make of Strong New Home Sales and Weak Existing Home Sales?
August 26, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
For many looking from afar, the release of new and existing home sales in July was likely a bit puzzling. Seasonally-adjusted new home sales, according to the Census Bureau, posted a recovery high and were up 31% year over year. Meanwhile, ...
Filed Under
existing home salesnew home salessurvey
Older High Schoolers a Secular Factor in Young Adults Living at Home
August 12, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
As of the 2010 Decennial Census, 77.6% of 18-19 year olds lived at home with their parents or grandparents, 240 basis points higher than in 2000, which is at least partly related to a less favorable employment backdrop in 2010 when the national ...
Filed Under
demographics
Based on Credit Scores, How Tight Is Mortgage Underwriting Versus History?
August 12, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
In the mainstream media, it is common to find opinions that mortgage credit availability is “too tight” or “a headwind for first-time homebuyers” or “only available to pristine borrowers.” While we do not believe that to be true as terms on ...
Filed Under
entry-levelmortgage
How Do We Reconcile Good Single-Family Housing With Bad Homeownership?
July 29, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
For 2Q16, the Census Bureau announced that the national homeownership rate registered 62.9%, down 50 basis points from 2Q15. The headline was particularly eye-catching given that it tied 2Q65 for the lowest second quarter level of the last ...
Filed Under
homeownership
Non-Bank Mortgage Originators Most Accommodating to FHA Borrowers
July 29, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
In recent years, national banks have faced numerous legal headwinds related to legacy mortgage exposure, incurring billions of dollars of fines in aggregate, which has led many to de-risk their origination business. This has been particularly ...
Filed Under
entry-levelmortgage
A Demographic Peak at Those Living Alone
July 29, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
In 2014, approximately 28% of households consisted of one person living alone, up from 26% in 2000, 25% in 1990 and 23% in 1980. The gradual increase has implications for housing demand given that individuals traditionally require less space ...
Filed Under
demographics
First Single-Family REIT Refinance Highlights Asset Appreciation
July 15, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
Progress Residential is a single-family REIT that owned approximately 17,000 homes as of 1Q16, making it the fourth largest in the country behind Invitation Homes (~48,000), American Homes 4 Rent (~48,000) and Colony Starwood Homes (~32,000) ...
Filed Under
institutional investorssingle-family rental
Why Don’t More Consumers With Elevated Rates Refinance?
July 15, 2016 by Zelman & Associates
In its most recent weekly survey of mortgage rates, Freddie Mac reported that the national average for a 30-year fixed-rate product was approximately 3.40%, only 10 basis points higher than the historical low posted in late 2012 dating back ...
affordabilityapartmentsbaby boomersbuild-for-rentBuilding Productsconstruction lendingdemographicsentry-levelexisting home saleshome improvementhome pricinghomebuildinghomeownershiphousehold formationhousinghousing startsinstitutional investorsinterest ratesmacro housingManufactured Housingmillennialsmortgagemortgage ratesnew home salesreal estate servicesrefinancesg&asingle-family rentalstocksstudent debtsupplysurvey