房屋贷款, 地产新闻

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016354899_apuspendinghomesales.html

The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that its index of sales agreements fell 1.2 percent last month to a reading of 88.6

A reading of 100 is considered healthy. The last time the index reached that level was in April 2010, the final month that buyers could qualify for a federal tax credit that has since expired.

Contract signings are usually a reliable indicator of where the housing market is headed. There’s typically a one- to two-month lag between a contract and a completed deal.

The pace of sales for previously occupied homes is slightly above last year’s 4.91 million sold, the fewest since 1997. In a healthy economy, Americans would buy roughly 6 million homes each year.

In August, sales of new homes fell for a fourth straight month. This year is shaping up to be the worst for new-home sales on records dating to 1963.

Even so, homes are the most affordable they’ve been in decades. Mortgage rates are at six-decade lows. Prices in some metro areas have been cut in half. Still, sales in most areas remain weak.

The number of people signing home contracts rose in both May and June. But those increases didn’t make up for a huge drop-off in April, when signings fell more than 11 percent. Over the past two months, signings have declined 2.5 percent.

Contract signings fell across most of the country. July’s index fell 5.8 percent in the Northeast, 3.7 percent in the Midwest and 2.4 percent in the West. It rose 2.6 percent in the South.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Home-sales-jump-77-pct-as-apf-2095700257.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that home sales rose 7.7% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million homes. That’s below the 6 million that economists say is consistent with a healthy housing market.

Last month’s pace was slightly ahead of the 4.91 million sold in 2010, the worst sales level in 13 years.

Homes at risk of foreclosure made up 31% of sales. That’s up from 29% in July. Many are being bought by investors.

At the same time, activity among first-time buyers made up only 32% of sales, matching the July level. They normally make up 50% of home sales in healthy markets.

The median sales price dropped roughly to $168,300 in August from July. A key reason was the rise in foreclosures and short sales. Those homes sell at an average discount of 20 percent.

Investors are taking advantage of the discounts. Their purchases made up 22% of all sales last month, up from 18% in July.

The high rate of foreclosures has made re-sold homes much cheaper than new homes. The median price of a new home is roughly 30% higher than the price for a previously occupied home — twice the normal markup.

Contracts were cancelled at a higher rate in August, with 18% of Realtors saying they had at least one contract scuttled. That’s up from 16% in July.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/August-home-building-fell-5-apf-316920322.html?x=0

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that builders began work on a seasonally adjusted 571,000 homes last month, a 5% decline from July and a three-month low. That’s less than half the 1.2 million that economists say is consistent with healthy housing markets.

Single-family homes, which represent roughly two-thirds of home construction, fell 1.4%. Apartment building plunged 12.4%.

Building permits, a gauge of future construction, rose 3.2%.

Home construction is down nearly 6% over the past year. But permits are up nearly 8%. That suggests builders aren’t working on new homes, but may be preparing to start dormant projects when the economy improves.

Builders typically begin construction on single-family homes six months after getting a permit. With apartment projects, the lag time can be up to a year.

Construction fell to its lowest levels in 50 years in 2009, when builders began work on just 554,000 homes. Last year was not much better and this year is shaping up to be just bad.

New-home sales fell in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 298,000, the weakest pace in five months. This year is shaping up to be the worst for sales on records dating back a half-century.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-home-builder-outlook-apf-3214607360.html?x=0

The National Association of Home Builders said Monday that its index of builder sentiment in September fell to 14 from 15. The index has been below 20 for all but one month during the past two years.

Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market. It hasn’t reached 50 since April 2006, the peak of the housing boom.

Last year, the number of people who bought new homes fell to its lowest level dating back nearly a half-century. Sales this year haven’t fared much better.

Nevada, California, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Utah.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Housing-market-Foreclosures-cnnm-1351134910.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

8月份银行向法院递交的法拍申请比7月份增加了7%，而银行向住户发出的法拍通知单则急升33%，显示出银行开始加快了法拍的步伐。

不过，银行真正回收的数量则略微有所下降。8月份银行回收的房屋数量是64,813间。