The REconomy Podcast™: The Digital Future of Mortgage Lending and Real Estate Settlement

By FirstAm Editor on November 18, 2021
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the digital future of mortgage lending and real estate settlement, and the innovative technologies that are making an end-to-end digital home-buying experience a reality with Eddie Oddo, vice president of ... Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy

How will the Housing Market Fare as Rates Rise?

By Mark Fleming on November 12, 2021
In the month of October, the average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate increased to its highest level since March of this year – 3.07 percent. For context, the historical average of the 30-year, fixed mortgage rate dating back half a century is 7.8 percent. In the history of recorded data on the 30-year fixed mortgage rate, it has never been as low as ... Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability

The REconomy Podcast™: Will Inflation Drive Mortgage Rates Higher?

By FirstAm Editor on November 4, 2021
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine rising inflation in today’s economy and what it may mean for mortgage rates. Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy

How Will Rising Mortgage Rates Impact House-Buying Power?

By Mark Fleming on October 26, 2021
In August, year-over-year nominal house price appreciation reached 20.7 percent, the third consecutive month it has set a new record. According to our Real House Price Index (RHPI), which measures housing affordability in the context of changes in consumer house-buying power, incorporating changes in household income, mortgage rates and nominal ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

The REconomy Podcast™: What is the Fed Signaling on Interest Rates?

By FirstAm Editor on October 22, 2021
In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how the Federal Reserve signals potential policy changes on interest rates and the tapering of its Treasury and mortgage-backed securities purchases. Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy

Do Rising House Prices Help or Hurt the Housing Market?

By Mark Fleming on October 15, 2021
Housing market potential strengthened modestly in September, increasing a 0.4 percent compared with August, according to our Potential Home Sales Model. The slight increase means that on a year-over-year basis, housing market potential is now nearly 9 percent higher than in September 2020, when the housing market’s summer rebound was accelerating, ... Read More

Interest Rates Homeownership Potential Home Sales