Housing Market Trends

From the First American Economic Center

The First American Economic Center has you covered with in-depth analysis and expert insights on the latest data and trends in the industry.

Loan Application Defect and Fraud Risk Reaches Historically Measured Low Point

By FirstAm Editor on June 30, 2016
We’ve posted the May First American Loan Application Defect Index, which estimates the frequency of defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications. The Defect Index decreased 2.7 percent in May as compared with April and decreased by 9.9 percent as compared with May 2015. The Defect Index is ... Read More

Loan Application Defect Index

“Brexit” Decision Uncertainty Contributed to Consumer House-Buying Power

By FirstAm Editor on June 23, 2016
The second edition of First American’s proprietary Real House Price Index (RHPI) looks at April 2016 data and includes analysis from First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming explaining the connection between “Brexit” and recent trends in rates for fixed-rate mortgages. Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Income

Optimism for growth in real estate transactions improves substantially over last quarter

By FirstAm Editor on June 21, 2016
We invite you to browse the second quarter 2016 First American Real Estate Sentiment Index, which measures title agent sentiment on a variety of key market metrics and industry issues. In 2016, the survey has also tracked title agent sentiment regarding the implementation of the Know-Before-You-Owe rule, also referred to as the TILA-RESPA ... Read More

Interest Rates Real Estate Sentiment Index Federal Reserve

Market Activity Moves Closer To Potential

By Mark Fleming on June 16, 2016
For the month of May, First American’s proprietary Potential Home Sales model showed that the market for existing-home sales is underperforming its potential by 2.8 percent or by an estimated 156,000 seasonally adjusted, annualized rate (SAAR) of sales. While still underperforming, this is an improvement over last month’s underperformance gap of ... Read More

Housing

TheStreet.com - The Fed Holds Off on Rate Hike: Here’s what it means for your wallet

By FirstAm Editor on June 15, 2016
First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming is quoted in an article from TheStreet.com explaining the forces behind low mortgage rates. Read More

Housing In The News

Really, How Important is That Rate Hike?

By Mark Fleming on June 13, 2016
With the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting this week, many are wondering if an interest rate hike is in the works. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the current market expectation of a 0.50 percent rate increase in June is extremely low – 4 percent. However, the likelihood jumps to 27 percent in July. But, whether the Fed ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Federal Reserve Income