Consumer Sentiment Rises for Fifth Straight Month in December
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index improved for the fifth consecutive month in December, rising about 3% to its highest reading in seven months. A surge in buying conditions for durables led Current Economic Conditions to soar more than 20%. Rather than a sign of...
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Lender Data Shows Refinance Offers Have Increased 42% Nationwide Over the Last Year
Remember the days of 3% mortgage rates? As a relieved nation emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, along with it came those historically low average mortgage rates below 5.00%, 4.00% or even sub-3.00%. But as inflation began to increase so too did mortgage rates, rising to nearly 8.00%...
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Consumer Sentiment Rises Slightly for the Third Consecutive Month
How are consumers feeling overall, and how does that translate to a real estate sale? The question is multifaceted, but asking it could be key to learning where buyers stand as the election fast approaches. The consumer sentiment index indicated yet another rise, for the third consecutive...
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Consumer Sentiment Shifts From Gains to Slight Decline
A key skill to being a real estate agent is judging a buyer’s mood. So how are consumers feeling on a wide scale? Consumer sentiment dipped slightly in the early days of October 2024, from 70.1 to 68.9, per the latest report for the University of Michigan. This monthly change comes in...
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4 Mortgage Refinancing Errors Your Longtime Clients Must Avoid
Maintaining client relationships means hopefully selling them another house in the future, and representing them as the seller agent as well. As such, it’s imperative you guide them in all aspects of homeownership even in times when they are not buying or selling. One key topic is...
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Consumer Sentiment Turns Positive as Inflation Slows
With a recent interest rate decrease from the Fed and slowing inflation, consumers’ economic hopes saw a significant increase in September. Consumer sentiment rose 3.2% in September, from 67.9 in August to 70.1, according to the University of Michigan’s latest report. This is the...
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Rental Markets Cool—but Not to Pre-Pandemic Levels
“The rent is too damn high,” famously proclaimed New York City perennial candidate Jimmy McMillan. The latest analysis from Harvard University’s State of the Nation’s Housing 2024 report suggests those who share McMillan’s views are unlikely to change their tune. The report,...
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Fannie Mae: Most Consumers Remain ‘Apprehensive’ About Housing Market
Consumers reported significantly greater optimism about the future direction of mortgage rates, despite showing little change in overall home buying sentiment, according to Fannie Mae data. Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) for August increased 0.6 points to 72.1, up 5.2...
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Understanding the Home Mortgage Payoff Process: A Complete Guide
Paying off a mortgage is a momentous financial achievement. It can happen during the process of selling a home or before. During a sale, homeowners often ask me when they should stop paying a mortgage. My guide will walk you through the entire process, from understanding your mortgage terms...
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Consumer Confidence Up Slightly in August Due to Economy and Inflation
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which measures American opinions of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months, rose in August to 103.3, from an upwardly revised 101.9 in July, while the Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment...
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