Last week’s economic news was dominated by speeches given by Federal Reserve presidents, the minutes from April’s FOMC meeting and commencement address given by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. The latest readings for new and existing home sales were also released.
Home sales rose for the 11th consecutive month according to the National Association of REALTORS® Existing Home Sales Report for January.
Home sales dropped last month, but not because demand was lacking. There are fewer homes for sale than at any time in the last 11 years.
In November, for the second straight month, the Pending Home Sales Index eclipsed its benchmark reading of 100, posting a value of 106.4.
Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate at 3.37 percent — an increase of 0.05 percentage points from the week prior.
According to a joint release from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Housing Starts rose 3.6% in October 2012, climbing to a seasonally-adjusted, annualized rate of 894,000 units.
After a small decline in September, Existing Home Sales rebounded in October, increasing a modest 2.1%.
The National Association of REALTORS® reports Existing Home Sales at 4.75 million units in September 2012 on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, an 11 percent increase from one year ago.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 4.82 million “existing homes” sold on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis in August, representing a near 8 percent improvement from the month prior and a nine percent jump from August 2011.
Mortgage markets improved last week as the Federal Reserve introduced new economic stimulus.
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