Scotsman Guide News

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• Home equity rises to record levels
  

  Aug 18, 2017  17:10 ET
  More than 14 million homeowners — nearly a quarter of all residential properties — were equity rich at the midway point of the year, meaning their homes could fetch at least 50 percent more on the market than their mortgaged amount, according to Attom Data Solutions. >>

• • 1. Home affordability erodes in first half of 2017
       

       Most industry watchers believe home prices will keep moving up and the strong sellers’ market will keep going for some time barring a recession. Housing economists don’t agree, however, on how relatively affordable the m... >>

    2. Home affordability nears a tipping point
       

       The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported this week that the national median home price, at  $255,600, reached a record high in the second quarter. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun spoke with Scotsman Guide ... >>

  • 1. Construction labor shortages take a toll
       

       The National Association of Home Builders says that its member builders are reporting significant shortages in 15 construction trades, a strong indicator of a worsening situation that has contributed to a shortage of hom... >>

    2. Housing starts disappoint in July
       

       Almost all housing economists now say more homes need to be built to ease tight inventories around the country and keep prices under control. July’s housing-starts data largely disappointed, however. Overall... >>

• 1. More Headlines

     Home equity rises to record levels
     More than 14 million homeowners — nearly a quarter of all residential properties — were equity rich at the mid... >>

     
     

     Key mortgage rate ticks down
     Mortgage rates held steady over the week, Freddie Mac reported. Through Wednesday, the 30-year fi... >>

     
     

     HARP extended through 2018
     The regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has extended the crisis-era refinancing program, Home Affordable ... >>

     
     

     Refinancing gains steam on lower rates
     Recent tensions with North Korea pushed down mortgages rates last week, causing a flurry of refinancing activ... >>

     View all headlines >>

  2. Q&A

     Most homeowners expect a price correction
     

     As home prices have risen, so too have worries that the housing market could be headed for a correction. Recently, the downpayment insurer ValueInsured published survey r... >>

     Housing-finance system doesn't need big fix
     

     Housing-finance reform is back on the Congressional agenda, and small lenders could hold considerable sway over what form the legislation takes. Glen Corso, executive dir... >>

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  Questions? Contact Chief Reporter Victor Whitman at (425) 984-6017 or victorw@scotsmanguide.com
  
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