2023 Began With A Boom

Mortgage applications rose during the first weeks of 2023 and the housing market was still going strong. It was reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) that the week ending January 13, 2023 mortgage applications rose 27.9% from the week before. This is still 35% below the levels that were reported in January 2022.

“Mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since September 2022, and about a percentage point below the peak mortgage rate last fall. As we enter the beginning of the spring buying season, lower mortgage rates and more homes on the market will help affordability for first-time homebuyers,” says MBA chief economist Mike Fratantoni.

The end of 2022 the housing market was slowing down due to high home prices and rising mortgage rates that have doubled since 2021. “We’re seeing decade-low readings for just about every index that you can imagine for housing,” says NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz.

The lack of inventory is causing the market to slow and experts say that the months ahead will slow down even more. This is a great time to get out there and purchase a home. Choose a realtor who can help you from start to finish and help find your dream home.

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Reports have shown that inflation might have already peaked. This has caused the mortgage rates to start to fall back towards 5%. The week ending in August 18th showed 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at an average of 5.13% according to Freddie Mac. The week prior was an average 5.22% and the year prior the 30-year was 2.86%.

“Inflation appears to be beyond its peak, which has stopped the rapid increase in mortgage rates that the housing market was experiencing earlier this year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

The higher mortgage rates hurt the housing market this summer which rose to a high of 5.81% in mid-June. Sales dropped on home sales for both new homes and existing homes causing a dip in mortgage applications. The last week in August 2022 mortgage applications were at their lowest levels since 2000.

“The market continues to absorb the cumulative impact of the large price and rate increases that led to a plunge in affordability,” said Khater. “As a result, over the rest of the year purchase demand likely will continue to drag, supply will modestly increase, and home price growth will decelerate.”

“Home purchase applications continued to be held down by rapidly drying up demand, as high mortgage rates, challenging affordability, and a gloomier outlook of the economy kept buyers on the sidelines,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting.

If home prices slow in increasing and mortgage rates lower, then hopefully the housing market will bounce back. This hopefully will ring true as a year ago a a buyer could purchase a $390,000 home with 20% down on a 30 year-fixed rate mortgage and have a monthly payment of around $1,292. This same home today will cost a home buyer around $1,700 a month which is around $408 more each month.

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