
Logan Mohtashami, Benzinga Contributor

With that said the beat on July Existing home sales isn’t surprising, I was looking for the number 5.26 million and it came in a bit higher than that at 5.39 million. However looking for the next 6-8 months the drop in mortgage purchase apps will be felt For example, all my July, August and even September closings were done with Pre Qualification before June and a majority of those Pre Q’s are still in the process of buying a home. After July the drop in volume of new Pre Q’s makes evident that rates have cooled the buying frenzy we saw here in Southern California.
New home sales on the other hand looked very soft. The number came in at 394,000 and the expectations was for 475,000.This has more of a reality of the current interest rate cycle and the vicious spike in mortgage rates we have seen since May 1, 2013.Anyone remember Ivy Zelmen’s Housing Nirvana Interview on CNBC on March 7, 2013? (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100533720)
It seems that a 100 basis point increase on mortgage rates created a shock value that has cooled down housing from its fever pitch. Further, home since her interview, home builders stocks has not performed well either.
I do agree with Ivy in terms of construction expansion because of population growth and household formation. However, we need to move away from this theme that we have this great housing expansion. A market which contains more than 30% cash buyers is not a traditional buyers market.
In March of 2013 2/3rd of all buyers, based on median Incomes to median prices, were priced out already. Now that rates have risen housing inflation is doing a number on Debt to income Ratios and personal budgets for home cost. This is something that the financial media has ignored. People do actually have their own budgets for homes so we can’t assume people will push themselves to 43% DTi ratios.
Let’s take a look at a real-time example. A few months ago my neighbor’s model of home sold for $490,000, traffic was good and there was strong interest on the home. He felt encouraged about listing his for sale. But 10 days into the market my neighbor has already dropped his price from $485,000 to $475,000. Keep in mind that this property is in a hot area in Irvine, California where there are deep pockets and great incomes. Now is 15K a real big deal? If you’re talking about a trend softening, then yes. The open houses have been less lively but I am sure he will sell his home soon. So for sure rates rising and more supply coming to the market here in Orange County has kept prices from getting more bubbly.
Logan Mohtashami is a senior loan officer at AMC Lending Group, which has been providing mortgage services for California residents since 1988. Logan is also a financial contributor for Benzinga.com and contributor for Businessinsider.com
Love the Batman cartoon. Too bad it isn’t Ben Affleck slapping Matt Damon.
Someone has already been to China to advertise cheap houses in USA for cash. So the RE should be upon running hot next February 2014.