For the sixth straight week, fixed mortgage rates inched down, reaching new lows for 2011. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.60 percent this week while the 15-year mortgage averaged 3.78 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders reported this week that home affordability reached its highest level in 20 years, making the purchasing power for home buyers even better during this traditionally prime buying season.
Here’s a closer look at mortgage rates:- 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage: Averaging 4.60 percent this week, it was down slightly from last week’s 4.61 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.84 percent. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage hasn’t been under this week’s 4.60 percent average since early December 2010 when it fell to 4.46 percent.
- 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage: Averaging 3.78 percent this week, it also was down from last week’s 3.80 percent average. Last year at this time, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.21 percent. It has not been under this week’s 3.78 percent average since late November 2010 when it fell to 3.77 percent.
- 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage: Averaging 3.41 percent this week, it was down from last week’s 3.48 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.97 percent.
Homes are more affordable to more families, according to the latest index for the first quarter of 2011 that shows affordability reaching its highest level in more than 20 years.
Nearly 75 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the first quarter of 2011 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index. The previous high was set in the fourth quarter of 2010 with 73.9 percent.
"With interest rates remaining at historically low levels, today's report indicates that home ownership is within reach of more households than it has been for more than two decades," says Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.
More people bought new homes last month with new-home sales rising 7.3 percent, the Commerce Department reported on Tuesday. It was the second straight month that new-home sales were up.
New-home sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 323,000 homes in April, which is its highest level since December.
However, overall sales for the year still remain well below what economists consider a 700,000 healthy pace for the new-home sector.
The new-home market for the last five years has faced declines. It continues to battle against a glut of foreclosures across the country at ultra-low prices that have made competing a challenge.
Builders are keeping inventories low: A record low of 175,000 new homes were available for sale last month.
Meanwhile, the median price of a new home rose more than 2 percent in April, compared to the previous month, to $217,900. New-home prices are more than 30 percent higher than the median price of existing homes.
Source: “New-home Sales Up 7.3 Pct. in April After Sluggish Start to Year,” The Associated Press (May 24, 2011) and “U.S. April New Home Sales at 4-Month High,” Reuters News (May 24, 2011)
Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee have drafted a bill to raise the minimum down payment for Federal Housing Administration-backed loans to 5 percent as well as cut FHA loan limits in many markets. FHA-backed loans are a main source of mortgages for first-time home buyers.
Currently, home owners who take out FHA-backed loans are required to have a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent; the GOP bill seeks to raise that to 5 percent. The GOP says it wants to protect home owners against default and improve FHA’s finances.
The bill has not yet been introduced but remains in draft form. However, the draft legislation is expected to be discussed on Wednesday by the subcommittee.
The draft legislation also calls for lowering FHA loan limits in several areas.
As of now, the maximum size of FHA-backed loans in expensive areas of the country is set to drop to $625,500 from $729,750 as of Oct. 1. In less expensive areas, the limit may drop to $271,050. The GOP draft bill wants to drop the limits even more to 125 percent of a county's median home price, Dow Jones reports.
"While we support reforms to strengthen the program, changes should not be made at consumers' expense by drastically impacting the affordability and availability of mortgage capital," Ron Phipps, the National Association of REALTORS®’ president, said in a statement.
Source: “House Republicans Aim to Raise Money Down for FHA Loans,” Dow Jones International News (May 23, 2011)
Analysts Say Housing Is on the Way Up
Analysts at both Standard & Poor's and Barclays Capital agree that the uptick in home resales last month is a favorable sign of things to come. Because pending home sales — an indicator of future activity — were up in February, S&P believes transaction volume will rise for April.
Barclays, meanwhile, says March's 3.7 percent gain in existing-home sales merely reinforces its position that the housing market actually hit bottom in late 2010.
Source: “Monday Morning Cup of Coffee,” Housing Wire, Jon Prior (04/25/11)
For the sixth straight week, fixed mortgage rates inched down, reaching new lows for 2011. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.60 percent this week while the 15-year mortgage averaged 3.78 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. 
