房屋贷款, 地产新闻

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019715927_apuseconomyhousing.html

From purchases and prices to builder sentiment and construction, the U.S. housing market is making consistent gains.

The latest evidence came in reports Monday that sales of previously occupied homes rose solidly in October and that builders are more confident than at any other time in 6 1/2 years.

New-home sales and home-price indexes have reached multi-year highs.

Helping drive the housing rebound is growing confidence among builders. An index of builder sentiment rose to 46 this month, up from 41 in October. It was the highest reading since May 2006.

A second report Monday said sales of previously occupied homes are near 5-year highs, excluding temporary spikes in 2009 and 2010 when a homebuyer tax credit boosted purchases. Sales rose 2.1% in October.

Sales are nearly 11% higher than they were a year ago.

A key factor fueling the gains is a gradually improving economy, which has increased the number of people looking for homes. At the same time, fewer homes are available for sale. The low supply is helping push up prices.

In addition, mortgage rates have hit all-time lows. And rents are rising, making the purchase of a single-family home or condominium more attractive.

In September, builders broke ground for new homes at the fastest pace in more than 4 years.

The clearest sign of a better housing market may be the increase in prices. A measure of U.S. prices jumped 5%  in September compared with a year ago. That was the largest year-over-year increase since July 2006.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019718075_apushousingstarts.html

U.S. builders started construction last month on the most homes and apartments since July 2008, more evidence that the housing recovery is gaining momentum.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that builders broke ground on homes in October at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 894,000. That’s a 3.6% gain from September.

Single-family home construction dipped 0.2% to an annual rate of 594,000, down from a four-year high in the previous month.

Applications for building permits, a sign of future construction, fell 2.7% to 866,000, after jumping 12% in September to a four-year high. Still, permit applications to build single-family homes rose to their highest level since July 2008.

Sales of previously occupied homes rose 2.1% to 4.79 million in October, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales are near their highest level in five years, excluding temporary spikes in 2009 and 2010 when a homebuyer tax credit boosted purchases.

In addition, mortgage rates have hit all-time lows. And rents are rising, making the purchase of a single-family home or condominium more attractive.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019688599_apusmortgagerates.html

根据Freddie Mac每周平均利率统计，30年固定利率降到了有史以来的最低点-3.34%，刷新了几周前刚创下的3.36%的历史最低纪录。这是自1971年以来的最低利率。

15年固定利率同样创造了新的历史记录-2.65%。

详细历史记录请参看：Rates History