Fed Policymakers Cut Key Rate Range by .25 Percent

The Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee reduced its key short-term interest rate range one-quarter percent to 1.75 to 2.00 percent during it's September meeting. While FOMC members had mixed opinions on reducing the benchmark rate range for short term loans, the post-meeting statement suggested that reducing the federal funds rate was a hedge against inflation. The federal funds rate impacts short-term consumer loan rates for autos and adjustable rate mortgages, but does not impact fixed mortgage rates. FOMC monetary policy decisions are governed by the Federal Reserve's dual mandate of maintaining price stability and an inflation rate of 2.00…
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NAHB: Home Builders Remain Confident

The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index shows steady builder confidence in housing market conditions. September's index reading of 68 was one point higher than August's reading. Any reading over 50 indicates that most home builders surveyed view housing market conditions as favorable. August's original index reading was adjusted upward by one point. Component readings for the Housing Market Index were mixed. Builder confidence in current market conditions rose two points to index reading of 75; this was the highest reading year-over-year. Builder confidence in home sales over the next six months fell by one point to 70.…
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Boom Or Bubble? – Home Prices Hit Record Highs Across America

The rapidly rising home prices currently found in many parts of the United States make it seem like the Great Recession of 2008 never happened. It took approximately eight years for home prices to recover the values that were equivalent to those they had before the recession. After reaching this point of recovery, since around 2016, real estate prices have been going up very quickly in many cities. The Best Recovered Housing Markets Here are the fully-recovered housing markets analyzed by ATTOM data service for the second quarter of 2019 that have exceeded the peak valuations from before the recession.…
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