Home Purchase Sentiment Jumps
Fannie Mae’s 2019 Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) increased in November to its highest level since March, 2018. And it’s also likely that mortgage rates will remain low next year, according to experts.
Also in 2020, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will let mortgage borrowers nationwide take out home loans over $500,000. This will be the fourth consecutive year that the conforming loan limit has increased. Whether or not this is good for the affordability crisis in many markets is discussed on realtor.com.
Home Purchase Sentiment Index
Here are some of the conclusions from the Fannie Mae report:
“Looking ahead, we continue to expect a steady but modest pace of growth in home purchase activity.”
Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Fannie Mae
Findings Summary
Good/Bad Time to Buy: The percentage of Americans who say it is a good time to buy increased this month from 57% to 61%, while the percentage who say it is a bad time to buy decreased from 36% to 29%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say it is a good time to buy increased 11 percentage points and is the highest it’s been since March 2018.
Good/Bad Time to Sell: The percentage of Americans who say it is a good time to sell decreased this month from 67% to 66%, while the percentage who say it’s a bad time to sell remained flat at 26%. As a result, the net share of those who say it is a good time to sell fell 1 percentage point.
Home Price Expectations: The percentage of Americans who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months increased this month from 41% to 44%, while the percentage who said home prices will go down decreased from 14% to 10%. The share who think home prices will stay the same increased from 39% to 40%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say home prices will go up increased 7 percentage points.
Mortgage Rate Expectations: The percentage of Americans who say mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months decreased this month from 12% to 11%, while the percentage who say mortgage rates will go up increased from 37% to 39%. The share who think mortgage rates will stay the same decreased from 44% to 42%. The net share of Americans who say mortgage rates will go down over the next 12 months fell 3 percentage points.
Job Concerns: The percentage of Americans who say they are not concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months remained flat at 86%, while the percentage who say they are concerned also remained flat at 14%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say they are not concerned about losing their job did not change.
Household Income: The percentage of Americans who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago remained the same at 28%, while the percentage who say their household is significantly lower decreased from 12% to 10%. The percentage who say their household income is about the same increased from 59% to 60%. As a result, the net share of those who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago increased 2 percentage points.
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