The hottest Mortgage Rates Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 25
  1. House prices are on the rise, with the Case-Shiller National Index showing a year-over-year increase of about 3.8% in November. This trend seems to be continuing into December as well.
  2. The month-over-month changes show that house prices have increased 0.44%, which means house prices have been consistently going up for 22 consecutive months.
  3. Looking ahead, there’s speculation about what will happen with house prices in 2025, indicating that trends in housing are important for future planning.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 33 implied HN points β€’ 07 Feb 25
  1. January saw a significant increase in active housing inventory, rising by 38.3% from last year, but it's usually low during this month. March will be important to see if this trend continues.
  2. New listings in January rose by 23.7% compared to last year, but they are still at historic lows when compared to January 2019.
  3. Closed sales in January increased by 6.4% year-over-year, which is a positive sign, but overall sales are still down compared to earlier years like 2019.
The Overshoot β€’ 1316 implied HN points β€’ 20 Jan 24
  1. Despite high mortgage rates, construction and renovation spending in the US housing market have been holding steady or accelerating.
  2. Housing sales and construction are greatly impacted by changes in monetary policy and credit availability.
  3. The rebound in house prices and construction reflects the broader growth and asset price acceleration in the US economy post-pandemic.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 57 implied HN points β€’ 27 Dec 24
  1. Current mortgage rates remain high, especially above 6%, making it hard for homeowners to sell and buy new homes. Most people with lower rates don't want to move because their payments would go up.
  2. More than half of all outstanding loans are now under 4%, showing how many people got favorable rates during the pandemic. This is a big reason why available homes for sale are currently low.
  3. Market sentiment is hesitant, with many potential buyers waiting for mortgage rates to drop into the 5% range before they consider purchasing a home.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 63 implied HN points β€’ 18 Dec 24
  1. Mortgage rates are really important for the housing market. They can greatly affect both people's ability to buy homes and the rate of construction jobs.
  2. Tracking construction employment can give insights into the housing market trends. It’s a clear indicator of how the market is responding to interest rates.
  3. There are ongoing challenges in the housing market, and the data can sometimes seem tricky. It's like a game where understanding the numbers is key to navigating the situation.
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Daily Chartbook β€’ 1048 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 24
  1. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has increased for 4 weeks in a row, reaching 6.94%.
  2. Mortgage delinquencies rose for the second straight quarter across all product types, with an increase in new loans entering delinquency.
  3. Nearly 40% of US homes do not have a mortgage, showing a substantial portion of homeowners are mortgage-free.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 33 implied HN points β€’ 30 Dec 24
  1. Existing home sales saw a year-over-year increase in November, but overall sales are still low compared to past years. This means the market is slowly improving but hasn't fully bounced back yet.
  2. Inventory levels of homes for sale are rising, especially in states like Florida and Texas. More available homes could impact house prices as we move into the winter months.
  3. New listings are showing slight growth, but they remain lower than historical norms. This could mean fewer options for buyers compared to previous years.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 43 implied HN points β€’ 13 Dec 24
  1. House prices have been rising, with a 3.9% increase over the last year. This trend looks set to continue based on recent data.
  2. The Case-Shiller National Index saw monthly gains for the 20th time in a row, indicating a strong upward movement in home values.
  3. Understanding past trends in the housing market helps predict future changes, which is crucial for buyers and sellers.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 44 implied HN points β€’ 27 Nov 24
  1. Mortgage rates have jumped to 7%, which is making it hard for people to buy new homes. As a result, new home sales have dropped significantly, the worst drop since 2013.
  2. Building permits for new homes are also falling, which often happens before recessions. This suggests that fewer homes will be built in the near future, putting pressure on the housing market.
  3. There are a lot of new homes waiting to be sold, the highest number since 2009. If this trend continues, it could lead to a drop in home prices.
Erdmann Housing Tracker β€’ 42 implied HN points β€’ 26 Nov 24
  1. New home sales have sharply decreased recently, which may be linked to high mortgage rates. This situation is causing a lot of homes to sit on the market longer.
  2. The increase in months of inventory suggests that buyers are hesitant or unable to purchase new homes right now. This might indicate a cooling off in the housing market.
  3. The article hints at changes in the housing market that could be significant. Understanding these trends can help potential buyers and sellers make informed decisions.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 23 implied HN points β€’ 06 Dec 24
  1. In November, home sales increased by 17% compared to last year. This is a good sign, but sales are still lower than what they were a few years ago.
  2. There was a big jump in active home listings, with inventory up almost 25% year-over-year. This increase is crucial for keeping house prices stable during the winter months.
  3. New listings are rising slightly, but remain low when compared to past years. This means fewer homes are being put on the market, even though some areas are seeing more options.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 11 Dec 24
  1. In November, home sales increased by 5.8% compared to last year, showing a positive trend in the housing market. This is the second year in a row that sales have gone up after a long period of decline.
  2. Active inventory of homes for sale rose by 26% year-over-year, which is good for buyers, but there are still sharp differences based on the region. Areas like Florida and Texas saw significant increases in available homes.
  3. Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in two years, averaging between 6.18% and 6.43% in September and October. However, recent increases in rates, now close to 7%, might slow down future sales.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 28 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 24
  1. House prices are gradually increasing, with a 4.2% rise year-over-year noted in the Case-Shiller National Index. This suggests the housing market is still active but may slow down soon.
  2. The monthly increase in house prices has been steady, showing growth for 19 consecutive months. This indicates a long-term positive trend in the housing market.
  3. Future outlooks for house prices in 2024 are being discussed, hinting at ongoing changes and developments that could impact buyers and sellers alike.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 23 implied HN points β€’ 25 Nov 24
  1. Existing home sales went up for the first time in over two years, but they are still low overall. Many people signed contracts when mortgage rates were at their lowest in two years.
  2. Florida and Texas are seeing a big increase in house listings, which is affecting prices in those areas. Hurricane Milton had an impact on statistics in Florida.
  3. Each local market has different trends, and some data is compared to figures from 2019 to show changes over time.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 28 implied HN points β€’ 04 Nov 24
  1. Home price growth has slowed down for seven months in a row. This suggests that the housing market is cooling off.
  2. Mortgage holders currently have a lot of equity, totaling $17.2 trillion in the U.S. This equity can sometimes be tapped for additional borrowing.
  3. Recent cuts to Fed rates might encourage more homeowners to use their home equity. This could lead to an increase in home equity withdrawals by homeowners.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 24 implied HN points β€’ 23 Oct 24
  1. Mortgage rates are influenced by the 10-Year Treasury Yield, which reacts to the economy's growth and inflation expectations. Even though the Fed cut interest rates, mortgage rates have actually gone up because of the rising Treasury Yield.
  2. Currently, the 30-Year Fixed Mortgage rate is at 7.26%, the highest since July, showing a steady rise despite expectations for a decrease. This rise has persisted for four consecutive weeks.
  3. High mortgage rates and low affordability are causing home sales to decline significantly, with September recording the lowest closed sales of existing homes since 2012. Mortgage applications also dropped sharply, indicating a cooling housing market.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 148 implied HN points β€’ 12 Feb 24
  1. The 2-part overview offers insights into the current state of the housing market for mid-February 2024, covering aspects like house prices, sales, inventory, mortgage rates, and rents.
  2. New listings for existing homes were up 2.8% year-over-year in January 2024, showing a slight increase from the previous year's record low for January, potentially signaling an increase in overall inventory for the market.
  3. It's important to note that December and January are typically the weakest months for new listings, and while new listings are expected to show year-over-year growth in 2024, March data will provide a clearer picture of their proximity to normal levels.
First principles trivia β€’ 177 implied HN points β€’ 07 May 22
  1. Defining median income, median home prices, and considering mortgage rates are crucial for assessing housing affordability over time.
  2. Analyzing mortgage payments as a percentage of family income reveals that 2022 is not the worst year historically for homebuyers needing a mortgage.
  3. When comparing price-to-income ratios, it's evident that 2022 is the worst year for all-cash homebuyers, but not as dramatic as some claims suggest.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 105 implied HN points β€’ 15 Aug 23
  1. Real estate agents suggest that mortgage rates may decrease to around 5% or lower once inflation is back to the 2% target.
  2. Current 30-year mortgage rates are at 7.26%, significantly higher than the 3.5% to 5% range prior to the pandemic.
  3. Expectations do not foresee a return to 3% mortgage rates unless there is another crisis.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 43 implied HN points β€’ 19 Mar 24
  1. Homeowners with low interest rates might be hesitant to sell due to higher mortgage rates, impacting the overall housing market.
  2. Rising mortgage rates create a 'lock-in effect,' reducing the probability of home sales and affecting affordability.
  3. The lock-in effect contributes to limited housing supply, increases home prices, and restricts mobility, but is expected to fade over time.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 43 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
  1. The Case-Shiller National Index reported a 5.5% year-over-year increase in house prices in December, with expectations for a slightly more positive change in January.
  2. Monthly, the seasonally adjusted Case-Shiller National Index experienced an 0.19% increase, marking the eleventh consecutive month of increase, yet the smallest growth since January 2023.
  3. The post discusses the outlook for house prices in 2024 and invites readers to subscribe for more detailed information.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 47 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 24
  1. California home sales were up 5.9% year-over-year in January, marking the first year-over-year sales gain in 31 months.
  2. Active listings in California decreased year-over-year for the 10th month but new listings increased, suggesting some balance in the market.
  3. In January, closed sales in various markets were up 3.0%, showing improvement compared to the previous month, but they are down compared to January 2019 levels.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 38 implied HN points β€’ 08 Mar 24
  1. Early reports suggest an increase in home sales from January to February.
  2. Closed home sales in February were based on contracts signed in December and January when mortgage rates were lower compared to the previous months.
  3. Inventory for housing markets in January was down year-over-year but has seen a slight increase compared to the previous year.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 33 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
  1. The closed sales in February were mostly for contracts signed when mortgage rates were lower than in the previous months. This signifies a trend of lower mortgage rates impacting sales.
  2. Active inventory in February showed mixed trends with some areas experiencing significant year-over-year increases in inventory while others saw decreases compared to 2019.
  3. New listings in February were up year-over-year, but still remained at historically low levels. Most areas reported lower new listings compared to January 2019.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 95 implied HN points β€’ 06 Apr 23
  1. The most prevalent 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now at 6.18% for top tier scenarios.
  2. There is usually a steady spread between the ten-year Treasury yield and 30-year mortgage rates.
  3. The spread between Treasury yields and mortgage rates has widened recently.
CalculatedRisk Newsletter β€’ 23 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 24
  1. The final look at local housing markets in January showed low existing home sales but an increase in new listings for the fourth month in a row.
  2. Active listings in January were up 3.0% year over year, highlighting the importance of monitoring inventory trends in the coming months.
  3. Closed sales in January saw a 3.0% increase year over year, revealing differences from sales in January 2019 and hinting at potential sales growth in February.
Spilled Coffee β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 28 Feb 24
  1. Mortgage rates are at historic highs, hovering between 7-8% and leading to all-time high home prices despite low affordability.
  2. Inventory shortage persists as people with locked-in low mortgage rates hesitate to sell, contributing to the rise in home prices.
  3. Even with rising interest rates and low affordability, US home prices show resilience with 12 consecutive years of gains, indicating a continuing strength in demand.