Housing starts unexpectedly jump 12.2% in August, building permits drop

  • September 20, 2022
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  • realestatelife

New U.S. home construction unexpectedly surged in August, but a decline in building permits underscores how rising interest rates are continuing to cool overall demand for housing. Housing starts climbed 12.2% last month to an annual rate of 1.575 million units, according to new Commerce Department data released on Tuesday. That is above Refinitiv economists’

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Inflation Dominates The Headlines

  • September 18, 2022
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  • realestatelife

Major inflationary reports dropped this week, as August’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) were released. CPI came in worse than expected, rising 0.1% from July to August and 8.3% from August 2021. Analysts had anticipated a decrease of 0.1% from July to August. Inflation for consumer core prices, which excludes food

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Wholesale inflation declines in August, but prices remain near multi-decade high

  • September 14, 2022
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  • realestatelife

Inflation at the wholesale level cooled in August for the second consecutive month, although prices for everyday necessities remain at a multi-decade high, squeezing businesses and millions of American households. The Labor Department said Wednesday that its producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level before it reaches consumers, declined 0.1% in August

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Inflation soars 8.3% in August versus last year

  • September 13, 2022
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  • realestatelife

Inflation rose more than expected in August, continuing to create severe financial pressure for U.S. households even as the cost of gasoline fell. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the consumer price index, a broad measure of the price for everyday goods including gasoline, groceries and rents, rose 8.3% in August from a year ago.

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2023 Conforming / High Balance / VA Loan Limits

  • September 14, 2022
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  • realestatelife

New 2023 conforming loan limits won’t be released until November … but we’re honoring them now for conventional loans locked, starting September 7th for FNMA, FHLMC, and VA. $715,000 for regular one-unit conventional / VA loans (increased from $647,200) $1,073,000 for regular one-unit conventional / VA loans in high-cost counties and in AK and HI (increased

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Market Update | 10-05-22

  • October 5, 2022
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  • realestatelife

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: September ADP Employment Change was a little stronger than expected (208K vs. est. of 200K). Annual Pay rose by 7.8% for “job stayers” and up 15.7% for “job changers” Taking it to the House: Weekly Mortgage Applications tanked by -14.2%. Refinance Applications fell by -17.8% and Purchase Applications declined by -12.6% Trade

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Financial Hacks for Homebuyers

  • September 16, 2022
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  • realestatelife

When you’re buying a house, sorting out funding is often more challenging than finding the perfect home. From saving for a down payment to securing financing to managing your obligation long-term, there’s a lot of decision-making to be done. To kick off your research, here are some outside-the-box ideas from Your Real Estate Life /

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Fed’s Beige Book offers grim news for housing industry

  • September 15, 2022
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  • realestatelife

The economic standoff between rising inflation and rising interest rates continues to weaken the housing market nationwide, with home sales falling across all 12 Federal Reserve districts, according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book report. Prospects for future improvement anytime soon are dim as well. “The outlook for future economic growth remained generally weak, with … expectations

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US job growth moderates in August with 315,000 added while unemployment edges higher Unemployment rate unexpectedly rises to 3.7%, Labor Department says

  • September 2, 2022
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  • realestatelife

U.S. job growth moderated in August from a torrid pace the previous month, but hiring remained solid despite growing headwinds from higher interest rates, scorching-hot inflation and mounting recession fears. Employers added 315,000 jobs in August, the Labor Department said in its monthly payroll report released Friday, in line with the 300,000 jobs forecast by Refinitiv

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US economy in technical recession, new GDP estimate confirms

  • August 25, 2022
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  • realestatelife

GDP shrank at revised 0.6% rate in second quarter, signaling US remains in technical recession.  Second-quarter GDP was initially reported to have shrunk 0.9% The U.S. economy shrank at slightly slower pace in the second quarter than previously reported, but continued to meet the criteria for a so-called technical recession as raging inflation and higher

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