A strong economy has translated into a booming past year for commercial real estate. Employment is high, commercial real estate loan delinquencies are down, and about $4.36 trillion of investments—the highest since the Great Recession—came in from commercial real estate lending entities, including REITs, pension funds, government-sponsored enterprises, and construction lending banks.But how will 2020 compare? The CCIM Institute released a rep
Older Americans may not realize that they can still qualify for a mortgage, even though the Equal Credit Opportunity Act forbids discrimination in the mortgage market on the basis of age.Yet, Mary Babinski, a senior loan officer with Motto Mortgage Champions in Trinity, Fla., told The Wall Street Journal that when a 97-year-old applicant came to inquire about a mortgage, he was even surprised he could still qualify for a 30-year mortgag
More than one in five Americans—or 21%—are not saving any of their annual income, according to a survey from Bankrate.com of 1,000 working American adults. A separate study, meanwhile, shows that only 29%—or 73 million of Americans—say they are financially “strong,” indicating they are spending, saving, borrowing, and planning well financially, according to a 2019 study from the Financial Health Network. More than half—or 54%—inst
Head to the Midwest or the East Coast for some of the biggest hotspots to cash in on a rental investment this year, according to a new analysis from TurboTenant, a property management tool. Overall, 31 cities from 20 states are featured in the report, which names the cities for the best rental investments in 2020. New York and Ohio tied for the most cities making the list, at three each.“When identifying the top 31 cities, we looked for a posit
A home costs more than just the sale price. For example, closing costs—which make up about 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price—are a major added expense. Michael Hyman, a research data specialist at the National Association of REALTORS®, shares the charges that make up closing costs in a post at the association's Economists’ Outlook blog so that home buyers can be prepared.Lenders provide a Closing Disclosure at least three business da
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.65% this week, continuing to entice home buyers to the market with cheaper financing opportunities. “By all accounts, mortgage rates remain low and, along with a strong market, are fueling the consumer-driven economy by boosting purchasing power, which will certainly support housing market activity in the coming months,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.Still, worsening affordability
Homebuyer demand hit its highest level in 11 years, as January continues to shape up to be a hot month for the housing market. Weekly mortgage applications jumped 30% for the week ending Jan. 10, a sign that home buyers are emerging, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index shows.“The mortgage market saw a strong start to 2020,” says Joel Kan, associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting for the MBA. “
A higher credit score could mean thousands of dollars in savings on a mortgage, according to a new study from LendingTree that compares very good credit scores to fair ones.A fair credit score is considered in the range of 580 to 669, while a very good credit score ranges from 740 to 799.The average borrower with a fair credit score will pay about $261,076 in total interest over the lifetime of their mortgage. On the other hand, a borrower with a
High home prices may be stymieing job growth in some metros. Over the last five years, affordability has worsened in areas that have seen a decline in job growth, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Association of REALTORS®.Affordability rankings declined in 81 metro areas—in the third quarter of 2019, 34 of them saw non-farm job growth fall faster than compared to the national rate over the previous five years.These 81 me
Child care costs have jumped 49% over the last 25 years. The cost of housing has increased by 14% in comparison, according to a new analysis from Freddie Mac.“The list of expenses for a family can be never-ending … and presents challenges for many looking to buy or rent,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “One of the major challenges, when it comes to affording a home, is the high cost of child care. Our analysis finds tha
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