UK Housing Market Focus Will mortgage guarantees be as successful as equity loans? After the success of the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, there are concerns that the potentially much larger mortgage guarantee aspect of the scheme could trigger a new house price boom when it is... 19th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Jul 13.) The increase in housing starts in July was driven by the multi-family sector, with single-family starts posting a small decline. The recovery in multi-family starts has been the driving force behind... 16th August 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Home sales likely to drop back before year end The recent uptick in existing homes sales most likely reflects a rush by home buyers to complete deals before mortgage rates rise further. However, this has only pulled forward sales that would have... 15th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Will MBS be tapered first or last and does it matter for housing? Although the Fed may opt for the simplicity of running down purchases of both Treasuries and MBS simultaneously, we think that it makes sense to leave tapering of MBS purchases for last. That said... 15th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Housebuilding (Q2) Private housing starts are increasing as builders begin to respond to the boost in demand from record low mortgage rates and the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. But with the supply response so far... 15th August 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Data Response Teranet-National Bank House Prices (Jul.) The continued deceleration in house price inflation across most major cities in July is broadly consistent with the past slowdown in home sales. As demand and supply imbalances continue to intensify... 14th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Residential Market Survey (Jul.) The latest RICS housing survey reported a jump in demand for homes and house prices, as record low mortgage rates tempt more people into buying a home. But with housing overvalued, a rise in prices... 13th August 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Weekly Homebuilders are having a Wile E. Coyote moment While housing starts have displayed some surprising resilience over the past several months, which would seem to support the consensus view that the housing market is enjoying a soft landing, more... 12th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Delinquencies (Q2) The fall in mortgage delinquencies, fewer foreclosure starts and the lower foreclosure inventory rate in Q2 are all encouraging signs that the fundamentals of the housing market are mending. Although... 9th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Housing market shows steady recovery Record low mortgage rates and the Help to Buy equity loan scheme have given a boost to housing demand, which has helped house prices to make some gains. But with more homes now coming onto the market... 9th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Early signs of slowdown in house price appreciation Mortgage applications for home purchase are showing the strain from higher mortgage interest rates, falling by 5.6% m/m in July. It’s too early to see the effect of higher rates on the existing home... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Arrears and Possessions (Q2) Low interest rates and lender forbearance are keeping mortgage possessions at levels which pose little threat to the outlook for house prices. But a meaningful drop in mortgage arrears is unlikely... 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response CML Buy-to-Let Lending (Q2) Lending to buy-to-let investors gathered pace in the second quarter. But the data do not suggest that landlords are playing a disproportionately large role in the nascent housing market recovery. 8th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Jul 13.) Higher mortgage interest rates saw mortgage applications for home purchase post their largest month-on-month fall in almost two years in July. But the most up-to-date weekly figures recorded a small... 7th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response CoreLogic House Prices (Jun.) Although it is too soon to be sure, CoreLogic house price index for June brought some tentative evidence that the moderation in the pace of house price gains that we are anticipating in the second... 6th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Halifax House Prices (Jul.) Halifax reported that house prices rose by a sturdy 0.9%m/m in July, which helped the annual rate to a three-year high. But with house prices already overvalued, the gains are worryingly reliant on... 6th August 2013 · 1 min read