More Signs of Cooling Demand: Mortgage Applications to Purchase a Home Drop Below 2019 for First Time in Pandemic Housing Craziness amid Higher Interest Rates by Wolf Richter • Apr 14, 2021 • 168 Comments And refinance mortgage applications plunged by over half from 2020 spike.
How the “Affordability Crisis” Migrated from High-Income Rental Markets, as Manhattan & San Francisco, to Lower Income Markets, as Detroit & Fresno by Wolf Richter • Apr 9, 2021 • 253 Comments The distortions caused by the shift to working from anywhere are hitting households that can least afford it.
The Explosive Surge of Mortgages for “Second Homes”: Housing Bubble Math by Wolf Richter • Apr 1, 2021 • 257 Comments No housing market can produce enough homes when homes are massively used as vacant investment speculations. This creates an artificial shortage.
The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in America: “House-Price Inflation” in all its Glory. March Update by Wolf Richter • Mar 30, 2021 • 270 Comments Dollar’s Purchasing Power Swoons, but CPI ignores house price inflation.
In Housing Market Gone Nuts, Condo Prices Sag in San Francisco Bay Area, Hover in 3-Year Range in New York, Rise at Half Speed in Los Angeles by Wolf Richter • Mar 30, 2021 • 83 Comments But low-tier prices of single-family houses in the vast New York City metro explode by 15%, powered by fleeing Manhattanites?
As “Rent Spreads” Shrink, Exodus Ends? Rents in San Francisco & Silicon Valley at Multiyear Lows, but Soar in Sacramento, Fresno, Lake Tahoe Area by Wolf Richter • Mar 26, 2021 • 150 Comments At what point does the shrinking difference no longer justify the move? But wait… the Exodus for the Sierra Nevada isn’t driven by savings.
FHA Mortgage Delinquencies Hit 17.5%. In 30 Metros, over 20%: On the Other Side of a Red-Hot Housing Market by Wolf Richter • Mar 24, 2021 • 226 Comments Everything is on ice. But when forbearance ends, forced sellers or lenders will put millions of these homes on the market.
Everyone Knows the Housing Market Craziness Can’t Last, then the First Dip Turns into a Big Drop by Wolf Richter • Mar 22, 2021 • 194 Comments Now they’re wondering why.
First Signs that Surging Mortgage Rates Are Dialing Down the Heat under the Housing Market by Wolf Richter • Mar 21, 2021 • 142 Comments The Fed smiles upon rising long-term Treasury yields as sign of economic growth and rising inflation expectations.
House Price Inflation in CPI is of Course Complete Baloney, but it Accounts for 1/4 of Total CPI by Wolf Richter • Mar 11, 2021 • 202 Comments With actual house price inflation based on market data, overall CPI would have jumped by 3.7%. Lifting the cover on the deception to keep CPI low.
