“Deja Vu All Over Again?”* The number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase homes dropped in May to the lowest level on record, a sign the housing recovery can’t survive without government incentives. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes tumbled 30...Read More
Upper Bracket Squeezed by Jumbo Bottleneck At a time when some mortgage products are showing signs of life, jumbo mortgages are hard to get and expensive, making it difficult for many would-be move-up buyers to take action. —Minneapolis Association of Realtors (6/22/09) Want a quick, simple handle on today’s housing market? Take $417,000, the limit...Read More
Bear Market Winners: First-Time Buyers The housing bust is creating a new group of winners: first-time home buyers. People who sat on the sidelines — often watching wistfully as their friends became homeowners — are suddenly in a position to grab some great deals. —Mary Pilon, “For Some, It’s Finally Time to Dive Into Housing...Read More
