• Mortgage Rates
  • Home Buyer Tips
  • Home Seller Tips
  • Real Estate
  • Around The Home

Michael Inkman

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

  • Home
  • About
    • About Michael
    • Testimonials
  • Types of Loans
  • Mortgage Info
    • First Time Home Buyer Tips
    • First Time Home Seller Tips
    • Get Pre-Approved Now!
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage Glossary
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 by Michael Inkman

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - May 31, 2016Last week’s economic reports included new home sales, pending home sales along with weekly mortgage rates and new jobless claims.

New Home Sales Surpass Expectations

Sales of new homes surpassed expectations and the prior month’s reading. April’s reading of 619,000 sales exceeded expectations of 523,000 new homes sold and 531,000 new homes sold in March.  New home sales rose by 16.60 percent on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, which was the highest increase in 24 years. 

Analysts said that April’s new home sales indicate that builders are increasing production of new homes to meet high demand for homes. Short inventories of available homes are credited with driving up demand and home prices. Buyers seeking family homes are contending with investor buyers and cash buyers in popular markets.

With affordability becoming limited in many cities, first time and moderate income homebuyers aren’t buying as many homes as they once did. This development contributes to slowing markets, as move-up buyers generally rely on first time buyers to purchase their homes. 

Shortages of available homes has pressured home builders to break ground on new home construction projects, but builders continue to cite labor shortages and a lack of buildable lots as reasons why they aren’t building homes as fast as homes are needed. 

Pending Home Sales Numbers Suggest Peak Buying Season Returns

Pending home sales were also higher than forecast in April with a reading of 5.10 percent as compared to expectations of 0.80 percent for April and the March reading of 1.60 percent. Pending home sales gauge future closings for home sales and reached their highest level in 10 years and posted a year-over-year gain of 4.60 percent. 

Three of four regional readings for pending home sales posted gains, with home sales in the Midwest posting slower growth. On a year-over-year basis, he South posted a gain of 6.80 percent and the Northeast posted a gain of 1.20 percent. The West saw a jump in pending sales with a reading of 11.40 percent after posting a negative reading in March. 

April’s expansion in new and pending sales suggests that the peak home buying season is back.

Mortgage Rates Rise; New Jobless Claims Fall

Freddie Mac reported higher average mortgage rates. The rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was six basis points higher at 3.64 percent; the rate for a 15-year mortgage rose eight basis points to 2.89 percent. The average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage rose seven points to 2.87 percent. Discount points averaged 0.50 percent for all mortgage types. 

New jobless claims dipped last week to 268,000 as compared to an expected reading of 275,000 new claims and the prior week’s reading of 278,000 new claims. Analysts said that New York school employees that were eligible for benefits boosted jobless claims earlier in May due to a non-typical law that allows some school workers to draw unemployment during school closures such as spring break or labor disputes.

What‘s Ahead This Week

This week’s scheduled economic news includes Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, construction spending and reports on inflation, core inflation and consumer sentiment. No reports were scheduled for Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday. 

Mortgage Rates Tagged: Financial News, mortgage rates, New Home Sales

Michael Inkman

Contact Michael


michael@michaelinkman.com
Mobile: (214) 762-4659
NMLS #152707
FIMC
Company NMLS #2289

Browse articles by category

Connect with Me

Sign Up for My FREE e-newsletter!

Let’s Keep In Touch!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

Archives

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
Texas Consumer Complaint and
Recovery Fund Notice

Third Party FIMC: bestmortgageblog.com
Equal Housing Opp
Company NMLS #2289
For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Complaints may be directed to: (877) 699-0353 or Email us: customerservice@fairwaymc.com.
The content on this website is written by Michael and reflects his opinion, and not the opinion of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
1800 Golden Trail Court
Carrollton, TX 75010

Copyright © 2023 Michael Inkman  ·  All rights reserved   ·   Log In