Luxe Austin Homes - mortgage rates

"Foreign buyers boost Texas housing market"

TheRealDeal reports, "an influx of international home buyers is providing a boost to Central Texas’ housing market. 

Over a 12-month stretch that ended in March, foreign homebuyers spent $609 million in Central Texas, accounting for 3 percent of sales dollar volume in the Austin region, the Austin American-Statesman reported, citing a study by the Austin Board of Realtors. 

“The Central Texas region continues to be a magnet for international homebuyers and investors,” Ashley Jackson, president of the Austin Board of Realtors, told the outlet. “One in six new Austin-area residents come from abroad.”

India was the primary source of international homebuyers for the second consecutive year, accounting for 21 percent of transactions among foreign…

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"What Is a 5/1 ARM? (And Should You Get One To Snag a Lower Mortgage Rate?)"

Realtor.com shares, "housing costs have skyrocketed as of late, with median home prices near historic highs and mortgage rates hitting levels not seen in 23 years.

So, it’s little wonder that the overall affordability crunch in the real estate market has cash-strapped homebuyers exploring potentially riskier financing options with the promise of a lower mortgage rate.

Enter the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM. This type of loan—the most popular ARM out there—has what’s called an introductory “teaser” rate that’s lower than what you’ll get with a fixed-rate mortgage.

Locking in a 5/1 ARM for your mortgage might be suitable for specific circumstances or a terrifying financial roller-coaster ride you can’t wait to exit. If you’re…

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"Top 10 Roadblocks for the Real Estate Market in 2024"

Realtor Magazine writes, "global unrest, economic uncertainty and eroding home affordability are among the top issues facing the real estate industry over the next year, according to The Counselors of Real Estate’s annual report, “Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate(link is external).” Each year, CRE surveys 1,000 real estate experts to gauge the emerging issues that could have the most significant impact on all housing sectors, particularly the commercial market.

“This past year has been challenging for some and opportunistic for others as the economy, office market and innovation continue to evolve and impact the market,” says CRE Global Chair William McCarthy. “Additionally, the housing shortage and infrastructure issues continue to cause…

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"The rental market’s downward slide: 5 straight months of falling rents"

The New York Post writes, "rents continued to fall around the country as more rental units hit the market.

September marked the fifth month in a row of year-over-year rent declines, with prices decreasing 0.7%, according to a recent Realtor.com® report. The median asking rent dropped to $1,747 in September. That was a $5 dip from August 2023 and a $29 decrease from July 2022, when rental prices peaked.

Renters are still paying more than pre-pandemic times, however. September 2023 rents were $338 — a whopping 24% — higher than September 2019.

The report looked at rents for studios and one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family homes in the 50 largest metros. (Metros include the main city and surrounding towns,…

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"Homebuilders turn to incentives to draw in priced-out buyer pool"

Austin Business Journal writes, "homebuilders continue to see sales momentum — despite surging mortgage rates and persistent affordability challenges — in part because they're pulling out the stops to lure buyers and ensure deals cross the finish line.

While a growing share of buyers have been locked out of the housing market because of rising mortgage rates, persistent home-price appreciation and a lack of existing-home inventory, the current environment also is creating some tailwinds for builders that can offer more competitive financing.

Housing starts increased 7% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau data.

In fact, 31%…

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"September data shows Austin metro housing inventory hit 8-year high"

Community Impact Austin shares, "housing inventory in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area hit the highest levels in more than eight years in September, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ metro data for September.

The overview

According to ABoR officials in a news release, in September, Travis County and Hays County both had more than four month’s worth of inventory while Williamson County had slightly more than three months worth. Bastrop County had the highest inventory in the MSA with five months worth.

In addition to high inventory, data shows that year-over-year home sales and median home prices dropped across the MSA—by 18.2% and 4.3%, respectively—while active listings increased by 7.8%. Homes also spent an average of 65…

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"Austin-area housing inventory rises as affordability challenges mount"

Austin Business Journal reports, "the Austin metro’s housing inventory is the highest it’s been in more than eight years.

Inventory in the region hit the four-month mark in September, according to the Austin Board of Realtor’s monthly market data. Inventory represents how long it would take to sell all of the homes on the market if new listings stopped, and housing experts say six months of inventory typically represents a healthy balance between supply and demand.

While that may sound promising for a region that's experienced a dearth of new homes, it takes some pain to have the gain. The number of closed sales is notably down. ABOR housing economist Clare Losey said this could be caused by a number of factors, including high interest rates and…

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"10 Things Most Homebuyers Get Wrong About Getting a Mortgage Today"

Realtor.com writes, "while buying a home has always been a challenging milestone, today’s high interest rates have made this dream even harder to achieve.

Over the past two years, interest rates on home loans have nearly doubled from the 3% range to around 7% today. This tacks many hundreds extra onto the monthly expense of housing, stretching some homebuyers’ budgets to the breaking point. And while there are ways to lower those costs, navigating the home loan process is extremely complicated—particularly for first-time homebuyers.

“It’s very important for first-timers to do research and understand all their options before they start looking for a home,” says Cara Ameer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who is licensed in California and…

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"Housing Market Predictions For 2023: When Will Home Prices Be Affordable Again?"

Forbes.com writes, "though winter may still be months away, housing market activity—already cooling due to eye-popping home prices and interest rates—may be on the verge of a deep freeze.

The national average 30-year mortgage rate rose to a 23-year high of 7.49% in the first week of October, according to Freddie Mac.

Given current rate conditions, it’s no wonder that year-over-year existing home sales sagged for the third consecutive month, slipping by 0.7%, with all four major U.S. regions posting declines, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Nonetheless, the housing market remains competitive for prospective buyers. With many homeowners “locked in” at low interest rates and unwilling to sell, demand continues to exceed…

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"Is the Housing Market Overvalued? What Buyers Need To Know"

Realtor.com writes, "is the housing market overvalued?

It’s an increasingly fraught question, and the answer might depend on who’s being asked.

Some real estate experts believe home prices are well above what they should be and expect them to begin coming down. Others think the high prices make sense given how many people are still in the market looking for properties, despite mortgage rates nearing 8%.

“If you look at how much income homebuyers are putting toward their housing payment, if the number is not the highest ever, it’s really darn close,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

No one wants to buy a home at the peak of the market—and then watch the home value trickle down.

Homes in 98 of the 100 largest housing…

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