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‘Delta Dip’ in Mortgage Rates Drives Homebuying Power Upward

First American Financial’s proprietary Potential Home Sales Model for the month of July 2021 found that potential existing-home sales increased to a 6.41 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR), a 1.3% month-over-month increase. This total represents an 82% increase from the market potential low point reached in February 1993.

“The bump in housing market potential can primarily be attributed to a decline in mortgage rates and an uptick in household income, both contributing to higher house-buying power,” said Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American. “Five of the six elements of our Potential Home Sales Model swung in favor of increasing market potential, but these were partially offset by an increase in the average length of time people live in their homes and subsequent limiting impact on housing supply negatively influencing market potential. You can’t buy what’s not for sale, even if your buying power says you can afford it.”

The market potential for existing-home sales increased 15.8% compared to a year ago, a gain of 873,500 (SAAR) sales. Currently, potential existing-home sales is 380,400 (SAAR), or 5.6% below the pre-recession peak of market potential, which occurred in April 2006.

With more Americans returning to the workforce in July, buyers were seen to be slowly regaining their confidence, as U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total non-farm payroll employment rose by 943,000 in July 2021, as the unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage point to 5.4%, with employment gains found in the leisure and hospitality, in local government education, and professional and business services sectors. The number of unemployed persons fell by 782,000 to 8.7 million in July, down from highs seen at the end of the February-April 2020 recession.

“Housebuying power, how much home one can afford to buy given household income and the prevailing mortgage rate, increased 1.9% since last month,” said Fleming. “The primary driver of the increase in housebuying power was the ‘Delta Dip’ in mortgage rates, a 0.1 percentage point decline in the 30-year, fixed mortgage rate partly due to economic and health uncertainty from the Delta variant putting downward pressure on Treasury yields and, in turn, mortgage rates. Holding income constant at its June level, the ‘Delta Dip’ in mortgage rates contributed to a $7,000 increase in house-buying power. Household income also ticked up, generating a $2,500 increase in housebuying power. The total $9,500 increase in housebuying power boosted market potential by a strong 41,300 potential home sales.”

Fleming also noted another factor related to boosting housing market potential, which was the continued growth of household formation.

“New household formation, primarily driven by millennials, continued to grow in July, boosting housing demand,” said Fleming. “Rising household formation increased housing market potential by 20,800 potential home sales in July, compared with last month.”

A recent National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) report revealed an increasing share of first-time buyers—a 56% share in the third quarter of 2020 that increased each quarter hitting 64% in Q2 of 2021. The share of millennials planning a home purchase jumped from 19% to 29% in Q2 of 2021. Among Gen Z buyers, it rose from 14% to 21%. Gen X and Boomers did not change much during this period.

Fleming also noted that one of the forces in play reducing housing market potential was homeowners choosing to remain in their homes. First American found homeowners remaining in their homes for a record 10.6 years. Fannie Mae's recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) found that a lack of inventory and continued elevated listing prices continue to make the prospect of home shopping and homebuying too daunting for most Americans.

Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae SVP and Chief Economist, said, “The percentage of respondents citing high home prices as the top reason for it being a 'bad time to buy' also reached an all-time high. On the flip side, selling sentiment remains extremely high, and well above pre-pandemic levels, for the same commonly cited reason: high home prices."

“The average length of time someone lives in their home increased in July relative to one month ago, but at a slower pace than in the previous three months. Still, the increase had a negative impact on housing market potential, reducing it by 9,100 potential home sales compared with one month ago. Overall, the average length of time people stay in their home has been increasing since the aftermath of the housing market crash a decade ago, meaning fewer and fewer people are listing their homes for sale, which keeps housing supply tight and restrains potential sales,” said Fleming. “Many homeowners refinanced into record low mortgage rates in 2020. Despite rates being below 3% once again, those homeowners are less inclined to move because they face a financial penalty in the form of a higher mortgage rate and larger monthly payment, even if they borrow the same amount as their existing mortgage. The lack of housing supply also prevents homeowners from listing their homes for sale–you can’t buy what’s not for sale and you won’t sell if you can’t find something better to buy.”

About Author: Eric C. Peck

Eric C. Peck has 20-plus years’ experience covering the mortgage industry, he most recently served as Editor-in-Chief for The Mortgage Press and National Mortgage Professional Magazine. Peck graduated from the New York Institute of Technology where he received his B.A. in Communication Arts/Media. After graduating, he began his professional career with Videography Magazine before landing in the mortgage space. Peck has edited three published books and has served as Copy Editor for Entrepreneur.com.
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