HUD and Census Bureau: Residential Construction Activity Report for January 2019
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for January 2019. Building Permits Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,345,000. This is 1.4 percent (±0.8 percent) above the revised…
CFPB: Report Released on First-Time Homebuying Servicemembers
Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report focusing on mortgages made to first-time homebuyers who are serving in the armed forces or are veterans. The Bureau’s report is the first time researchers have been able to provide a description and analysis of servicemembers’ mortgage choices and mortgage performance, both during and after…
FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Decreased in January 2019
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.60 percent for loans closed in late January, down 23 basis points from 4.83 percent in December. The average interest…
FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in Fourth Quarter 2018
U.S. house prices rose 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 5.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2018. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.3 percent from November. The…
Census Bureau: New Data and Tools Apps to Be Unveiled at Technology Demo Day on March 1st
The U.S. Census Bureau will host technology industry and university teams to showcase 20+ new innovative tech tools at an interagency demonstration day created through a federal initiative called The Opportunity Project (TOP). These new tools address challenges such as using artificial intelligence to connect veterans with apprenticeships, promoting access to and interest in STEM…
FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Refinance Volume Decreases in Fourth Quarter 2018
Nearly 3.5 Million HARP Loans at Program Expiration The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed 245,620 refinances in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with 253,135 in the third quarter. FHFA’s fourth quarter Refinance Report also shows that 1,390 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program…
Federal Reserve: FEDS Notes | Are Disappearing Employer Pensions Contributing to Rising Wealth Inequality?
Are Disappearing Employer Pensions Contributing to Rising Wealth Inequality? John Sabelhaus and Alice Henriques Volz* The share of U.S. workers covered by a traditional employer-sponsored pension plan has declined dramatically over the past few decades. Fewer jobs today have any form of employer-sponsored retirement plan coverage, and those jobs that do have coverage are much…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for November 2018
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for November 2018: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in November 2018 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000. This is 16.9 percent (±19.9 percent)* above the revised October…
ABA: Report Shows Credit Card Market Expands Further in Third Quarter as the Economy Sustains Robust Growth
Credit card use continued to increase in the third quarter of 2018, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. Compared to the previous quarter, purchase volumes increased for both subprime and super-prime accounts, but moderated for prime accounts. On an annual basis, monthly purchase volumes rose across risk tiers, led…
FHFA: Indices Show Little Movement in Mortgage Interest Rates in December 2018
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages were nearly flat from November to December, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.83 percent for loans closed in late December, down 3 basis points from 4.86 percent…