The latest Mortgage Banker Association’s (MBA) Forbearance and Call Survey reports that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 6 basis points from 5.35% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior week to 5.29% as of February 7, 2021.
News in end use
Mortgage Applications Decline 5.1% in Week Ending February 12, 2021
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending February 12th, 2021, the Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — decreased -5.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Wood Product Sales Lead Canadian Manufacturing Sales Higher in December
Statistic Canada is reporting that manufacturing sales rose 0.9% to $54.2 billion in December. Sales were up in 9 of 21 industries, led by the wood product, transportation equipment, and petroleum and coal product industries.
Canadian Home Sales Set Another All-Time Record High in January 2021
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is reporting that national homes sales in Canada set another all-time record in January 2021. Month-over-month (M-O-M) (December 2020 – January 2021) homes sales in Canada increased by 2%.
Property Taxes at the State and Local Level Have Increased Nearly 20% in Last 4-years
Analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Tax Data reveals that U.S. property owners paid $633.9 billion in taxes in the four quarters ending in Q3 2020.
The National Association of Realtors® Reports Home Prices Increased in Every Metro Area Tracked in 2020
The National Association of Realtors’® (NAR) latest report reveals that 88% of the metro areas it follows (161 areas) posted double-digit price gains in the Q4, up from 115 metro areas in Q3. For all of 2020 home prices increased in every metro area the NAR tracks.
Year-Over-Year, Week of February 7th, 2021 Breaks Several Housing Records
According to the latest report from Redfin, the Seattle-based technology-powered real estate brokerage, year-over-year – comparing the second week of February 2020 to February 2021 the median home sale price increased 15% to $318,750.
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Down in February 2020 and Year-Over-Year
The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (ICS) rates the level of current and future economic conditions in the U.S. The latest ICS was released today, Friday (2-12-21) and is at a current level of 76.20, down from January’s reading of 79.00 and down from February 2020 reading of 101.00.
Freddie Mac’s Reports Net Income Rose 18% in Q4 2020
The second largest mortgage financier in the U.S., Freddie Mac, reported on Thursday (2-11-21) that its net income in Q4 2020 rise 18% from Q3 to $2.9 billion, as low interest rates continue to boost originations. In total, the company’s net income at the end of 2020 was $7.3 billion, a 2% increase from 2019.
Led by Softwood Lumber, Canada’s Industrial Product Price Index Increased 1.9% in January
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) is reporting that according to flash estimates, the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) increased 1.9% in January. Excluding energy and petroleum products, the IPPI rose 1.4%. The price of softwood lumber increased 19.0% in January.