Economy

Mortgage rates, already easing, should keep falling as inflationary pressure cools during the rest of the year, but a pair of wild cards could upset the prediction.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers in a July survey said they expect mortgage rates to decline soon, but most want to see them cross a very specific threshold before they act, Mphasis Digital Risk found.

Underlying U.S. inflation eased for a fourth month on an annual basis in July, keeping the Federal Reserve on track to lower interest rates next month.

Against the backdrop of high interest rates and inflation, consumers have held off buying homes or pursuing bigger renovations that typically need financing. This pullback in spending has hurt Home Depot and other retailers, a reversal from the pandemic when people upgraded their houses. 

Five other cities are now at over $1 million in median price, up from four in previous periods, the National Association of Realtors said.

Sellers of contract-for-deed home financing deals must provide disclosures, financing terms and assess a borrower's ability to repay, the CFPB said in an advisory opinion.

The increase in refinance volume in July took place before the mortgage rate collapse in early August that brought the share to over 25%, Optimal Blue data showed.

Democrats Ritchie Torres and Gregory Meeks called on the New York Home Loan bank to follow the lead of its peers and use alternative credit scoring models for collateral to improve consumers' access to homeownership.

The 30-year fixed rate loan was down 26 basis points as investors reacted early in the week to the employment numbers, according to Freddie Mac.

Rule changes would come after a fraud investigation uncovered falsified numbers at a leading finance firm, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Market turmoil is driving the 10-year Treasury yield downward and taking mortgage rates with it, putting more borrowers in the money to refinance, Intercontinental Exchange said.

Bond traders now see a roughly 60% chance of an emergency quarter-point cut by the Federal Reserve within one week because of the market turmoil.

There were reports of rates plummeting after new numbers Friday showed a notable drop in overall jobs but then moderating later in the day.

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage was at its lowest level since early February as the benchmark 10-year Treasury dropped under 4%.

A measure of expectations for the next six months climbed to 78.2 in July, the highest since January.

First Foundation in Dallas recently got a $228 million capital injection led by Fortress Investment Group. Now it's announced plans to pivot away from its heavy focus on multifamily loans, which lost value as interest rates rose.

Despite being a top concern for a wide swath of voters, housing affordability has largely been absent from presidential politics.

But following the gross domestic product and personal consumption expenditures reports, Treasury yields and mortgage rates fell.

Lower inflation and a slowing jobs market is the driver of the new forecast, but housing will not see any immediate benefits.

Vice President Harris' surprise elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket and the ascent of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance to be the Republican vice presidential pick brings renewed vigor to each party's economic vision.