In the ESR's April 2015 Economic Outlook released Monday, the projection for economic growth in 2015 held steady at 2.8 percent despite a downward adjustment for Q1 growth from the prior forecast. However, Fannie Mae is expecting some volatility in financial markets due to the Federal Reserve's expected interest rate increase later in the year.
Read More »Fed Reports ‘Steady to Improving’ Residential Real Estate Activity in Most Districts
The districts of Richmond, Chicago, and Dallas reported that residential mortgage demand, particularly in the area of refinancings, grew during the period, while New York reported steady growth. Delinquencies were down or at low levels in New York and Cleveland, while Philadelphia and Kansas City bankers expressed confidence in the quality of their loan portfolios, according to the Fed.
Read More »Based on Recent Signs, Analysts Still Hold High Hopes for Housing Recovery in 2015
Economists at both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have stuck to their predictions that housing will recover in 2015 despite receiving recent reports of slower-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter, including job gains that fell well short of expectations in March. "We remain comfortable with our call that the Fed funds rate lift-off will occur in September," Fannie Mae chief economist Doug Duncan said last week. "The setback in the hiring picture is in line with consumer sentiment regarding the housing market from the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey."
Read More »Researchers Say Real Wage Growth Since Recession is Slower Compared to Other Recoveries
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported real wage growth of 22 cents year-over-year in February up to $10.54 per hour, researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland have conducted their own study and discovered that real compensation growth and real wage growth since the end of the recession are slower compared with other recoveries.
Read More »Q1 Economic Slowdown Does Not Deter Freddie Mac’s Positive Forecast for Housing
Freddie Mac's April prediction for GDP growth of 2.6 percent is a slight decline from March's forecast of 2.8 amid disappointing incoming data from the first quarter and harsh winter weather. This did not put a damper on Freddie Mac's overall forecast for housing, however. In fact, the title of the report, "Great Expectations," indicated that analysts at Freddie Mac still believe 2015 will be the best year for housing since the pre-recession days.
Read More »Housing Data Shows Surge in Demand, Median List Prices
An early look at the realtor.com national monthly housing data, which is based on the first three weeks of March, showed that housing demand is surging and median list prices are rising faster.
Read More »‘Disappointing’ Jobs Report Suggests More Economic Growth Is Needed For Full Housing Recovery
After months of solid gains with the administration touting that the labor market is at its healthiest level since the turn of the century, payroll employment increases for March fell well short of expectations with just 126,000 jobs added, according to data released the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.
Read More »Study Reveals Housing Market To Be At Its ‘Healthiest’ Level Since 2001
In its first-ever analysis of the U.S. housing market released Thursday, Nationwide Economics indicated that the national market was at its healthiest level in 14 years.
Read More »Two-Year High for Pending Home Sales Shows ‘Positive Momentum’ For Housing
"This is a positive sign heading into the spring homebuying season," Freddie Mac wrote on its blog. "This also shows positive momentum in general for the housing market, since this is the fourth consecutive month pending home sales have been up."
Read More »Latest Real Wage Growth Could Spell Good News for Housing
In the real earnings report for February 2015, the BLS reported that real average hourly earnings – hourly earnings adjusted for inflation – increased by 22 cents year-over-year from $10.32 to $10.54 year-over-year, an increase of 2.1 percent, despite a drop by one cent from January's average of $10.55.
Read More »