Home Mortgages: Rates Are Up And Requirements Easing. The media has extensively covered the rise in mortgage interest rates since last fall (from 3.42% last September to the current 4.1% according to Freddie Mac). However, a less covered aspect of the mortgage market is that requirements to get a mortgage have eased while rates have risen.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) quantifies the availability of mortgage credit each month with their Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). According to the MBA, the MCAI is:
“A summary measure which indicates the availability of mortgage credit at a point in time.”
The higher the index, the easier it is to get a mortgage. Here is a chart showing the MCAI over the last several months as rates have increased.
Have requirements for attaining a mortgage actually eased?
Yes. Here are two examples:
- FICO® Score – the credit score which helps determine a buyer’s eligibility. The score required to attain a mortgage has been falling over the last five months:
- Down Payment Requirement – the percentage of the purchase price necessary to place as a down payment on a home. To make this point, let’s look at the percentage of first-time buyers who have put less than 5% down over the last several years as compared to the 1st quarter of 2017:
Bottom Line
Whether you are a current homeowner looking to move to a home that will better serve your family’s current needs, or a first-time buyer looking for a starter home, it is easier to get a mortgage today than it has been at any other time in the last ten years.
There’s More to a Bubble Than Rising Home Prices
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What If I Wait Until Next Year to Buy a Home?
As a seller, you will likely be most concerned about ‘short-term price’ – where home values are headed over the next six months. As a buyer, however, you must not be concerned about price, but instead about the ‘long-term cost’ of the home.
How Much More Equity In Your Home Over the Last Year?
Lower-priced homes have appreciated at greater rates than homes at the upper ends of the spectrum due to demand from first-time home buyers and baby boomers looking to downsize.
How Much Equity Do You Have In Your Home? You Will Be Surprised!
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712,000 US Homes Moved Into Positive Equity in 2017
The average homeowner gained approximately $14,900 in equity during the past year. Compared to Q3 2016, negative equity decreased 22% from 3.2 million homes, or 6.3% of all mortgaged properties. U.S. homeowners with mortgages (roughly 63% of all homeowners) have seen their equity increase by a total of $870.6 billion since Q3 2016, an increase of 11.8%, year-over-year.
First Step To Buying A Home Is Getting Pre Approved
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The Cartier Experience
California Homes Days on Market Drops below 30 in October 2017
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Historically Speaking, There’s No Housing Bubble Coming Soon!
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Low Housing Inventory Results in Double Digit Price Increases
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Buying A Home Or Renting, You’re Paying Someones Mortgage
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1st Step To Buying a Home… Know Your Credit Score
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Lack of Home Inventory Makes Now… Best Time To Sell
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First Time Homebuyers Flocking to Our Down Payment Assistance Program
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Buying A Home Costs Significantly Less Than Renting
Every market is different. Before you renew your lease again, find out if you can put your housing costs to work by buying this year!