Mar 01 2024 39 mins
The January Producer Price Index inflation report released in February effectively eliminated the Federal Reserve from beginning the decline of banking rates this spring, which caused a market reaction that drove mortgage rates higher.
This upward movement of mortgage rates has tempered buyer activity year to date, but we still see real estate prices rising on healthy demand. But the market is finicky right now, with some areas red hot and other areas unpredictably slow. We call this hyper-local real estate and as a buyer or seller, it is important to understand.
Many households may soon have a decision to make if prices continue to rise. Get a second job, or change lifestyle. Credit card debt in America now stands at $1.1 trillion with an average interest rate of 24% and auto loan debt is now $1.6 trillion with defaults and late payments on the rise. This may drive change to the housing market as some homeowners may choose to sell in order to payoff debts from past spending habits.