Is The Housing Bubble The Next To Burst?

With stock prices cratering and bond yields soaring, it’s a fair question to ask if the housing bubble is about to burst, too. After all, home prices have skyrocketed in recent years thanks to artificially low-interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve, which has kept mortgage rates well below historic levels ever since the 2008 global financial crisis, even well under 4% for most of the past three years. But with the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at more than 5% and climbing, is the home price boom still sustainable?

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of a single-family home has jumped by over $100,000, or more than 39%, to $382,000 in March from $274,000 in 2019. The median principal and interest payment has increased by nearly 50%, to $1,502 from $1,054 three years ago, while the percentage of monthly income the typical mortgage payment eats up has risen to more than 20% from less than 16% in 2019. Likewise, the group’s affordability index, which measures whether a typical family earns enough to qualify for a mortgage, has dropped to 124.0 from nearly 160. While the NAR says the median family income has increased more than 10% to $89,321 from $80,808 during that time, the amount of income needed to qualify for a mortgage to buy a median-priced home has jumped by more than 40%, to more than $72,000.

Now, these NAR figures are as of March, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage was 4.24%. Since then, that figure has risen by more than 100 basis points, to more than 5.25%.
So, is this a bubble ripe for the popping? Continue reading "Is The Housing Bubble The Next To Burst?"

Fed Rate Hike Could Come in November

Lior Alkalay - INO.com Contributor - Forex


Once again a Fed rate decision is coming. Yet, unlike the rate decision in September, investors are at ease. Recently, we've seen disappointing non-farms, weak retail sales and plunging new home sales. So, given that, it would seem that the Fed's decision is obvious. Of course, investors have come to the conclusion that a rate hike won't be coming. But investors are wrong, both in the perception of a soft US economy and in their conclusion.

Housing Market Not Really Weak

The first argument that Fed doves are using is the weak new home sales figure. It's true; the figure did undershoot. But take a look at US housing in the global scheme of things. It means nothing. In fact, the US housing market is actually getting stronger.

Here's why… Continue reading "Fed Rate Hike Could Come in November"

Despite Low Rates, Housing Rebound is Weak

By: Elliott Wave International

A June 28 headline on CNBC reads, "Homeownership rate drops to 63.4%, lowest since 1967." The report goes on to say "The number of occupied housing units grew, but all on the renter side."

What does this change mean for the future of real estate in the U.S.? Will the recent rebound in mortgages and real estate prices continue?

Listen to this clip from Steve Hochberg's recent presentation at the San Francisco MoneyShow to get Elliott Wave International's unique perspective on the future of the U.S. real estate market (don't miss the link at the bottom to watch 4 more clips from Steve's presentation):


Market Myths Exposed

Free Club EWI Video Series
"Economic Crisis Meets Investor Opportunity"

Watch select portions of a live talk given by Elliott Wave International's Chief Market Analyst Steve Hochberg to a packed house at the San Francisco MoneyShow.

You'll see a compelling argument -- supported by charts, facts and figures -- for an imminent financial and economic collapse in America.

Log in to watch Steve's eye-opening presentation now, 100% free >>

Need a login? Complete your Club EWI profile to get instant access to this free resource >>

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Despite Low Rates, Housing Rebound is Weak. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.