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Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of November 11, 2013 - People who don't believe in the housing recovery will no doubt ignore the latest proof of its strength. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that most metro areas saw solid year-over-year price gains in the third quarter. The national median price posted its strongest annual growth in almost eight years. For existing single-family homes, the median price rose in 88% of the markets measured, based on Q3 closings, compared to last year.

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of November 4, 2013 - This week we'll have to be the candle that spreads light on the housing recovery, as the September Pending Home Sales Index didn't shine too brightly. This measure of contracts signed on existing homes fell 5.6% from August to September, suggesting a dip in closings for that type of property during Q4. The September drop was put to a lower level of consumer confidence, plus higher mortgage rates and home prices, although home price gains also reassure buyers that they're making an appreciating investment.

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of August 12, 2013 - We're definitely working our way through the housing recovery, with the latest data showing strong year-over-year gains in prices and sales. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported the national median existing home price increasing at an annual rate of 12.2% in Q2, from $181,300 to $203,500. That's the biggest yearly price boost since Q4 of 2005. Sales didn't do too badly either, up 12.3% annually in Q2 versus a year ago. The 5.06 million annual rate for the quarter was the highest reached since Q2 of 2007.

For the week of August 5, 2013 – Vol. 11, [...]

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of July 29, 2013 - It was certainly important to understand the details of last week's Existing Home Sales report. The headline numbers showed June Existing Home Sales were down a disappointing 1.2%, to a 5.08 million annual rate. But other details were encouraging. Existing Home Sales are up 15.2% over a year ago. The median price of an existing home rose and is now up 13.5% from a year ago. Sales are near their highest levels since November 2009, when they were spiked by the big home buyer tax credit. Existing home sales remain above the 5 million a year threshold, a very decent place to be.

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of July 15, 2013 - Some see the recent rise in mortgage rates as a difficulty, but the latest Fannie Mae National Housing Survey posits a different point of view. Their chief economist says: "The spike in mortgage rate expectations this month...may increase housing activity in the near term by driving urgency to buy." He explains: "Consumers may recognize that today's still favorable mortgage rates and homeownership affordability levels will recede over time.... More prospective homebuyers may be deciding that now is the time to get off the fence."

For the week of June 24, 2013 – Vol. 11, [...]

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of June 17, 2013 - Here are two thoughts that should relieve some stress for those of us working in the housing market. Fannie Mae's May 2013 National Housing Survey reported that the share of American's who think now is a good time to sell and the share of those who think now is a good time to buy spiked sharply from April to May. 40% of respondents think it's a good time to sell, up from 30% the month before, the largest gain in the survey's 3-year history. And 76% of respondents think it's a good time to buy!

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of June 3, 2013 - Last week, Pending Home Sales took their place at the top, hitting their highest level since April 2010, when folks were rushing to close before the homebuyer tax credit expired. April Pending Home Sales, based on signed contracts for existing homes, were up 0.3% over March and up 10.3% over last year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Their chief economist predicts, "Total existing home sales are expected to rise just over 7%, to about 5 million this year."

Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of May 20, 2013 - It definitely takes guts to remain optimistic in the face of some of the housing data coming at us these days. Last week, for example, we were greeted with a 16.5% drop in Housing Starts for April. It helps to dig into these reports. The dip was mostly due to multi-family starts, which are very volatile month to month, and were down 38.9%. Turns out, single-family starts were off just 2.1%. Taking a long-term view helps even more. Starts overall are up 13.1% versus a year ago, with single-family starts up a healthy 20.8%. So there.