by Calculated Risk on 11/24/2021 08:33:00 AM

From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, Third Quarter 2021 (Second Estimate); Corporate Profits, Third Quarter 2021 (Preliminary Estimate)

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 6.7 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "advance" estimate issued last month. In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP was 2.0 percent. The update primarily reflects upward revisions to personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and private inventory investment.
emphasis added

Here is a Comparison of Second and Advance Estimates. PCE growth was revised up from 1.6% to 1.7%. Residential investment was revised down from -7.7% to -8.3%. This was at the consensus forecast.

by Calculated Risk on 11/24/2021 07:00:00 AM

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications increased 1.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 19, 2021.

... The Refinance Index increased 0.4 percent from the previous week and was 34 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 5 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.4 percent compared with the previous week and was 4 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

“The financial markets continue to discern the Federal Reserve’s policy path in the coming months in light of the current high growth, high inflation environment. Despite a fair amount of rate volatility last week, mortgage rates were higher, with the 30-year fixed rate increasing 4 basis points to 3.24 percent,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting. “Despite the increase in rates, refinance applications rose slightly, driven by a 2 percent gain in conventional refinances. Borrowers continue to lock in mortgages in anticipation of higher rates in the future. Refinance applications were still more than 30 percent below a year ago, when the 30-year fixed rate was 32 basis points lower.”

Added Kan, “Purchase activity increased for the third straight week, as housing demand remains robust, even as the housing market approaches the typically slower holiday season. Both conventional and government loan applications increased, and the average loan size for a purchase loan was at $407,200, continuing its ongoing 2021 run of being mostly above $400,000.”
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($548,250 or less) increased to 3.24 percent from 3.20 percent, with points decreasing to 0.36 from 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.


The first graph shows the refinance index since 1990.

With relatively low rates, the index remains somewhat elevated, but down sharply from last year.

The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index

According to the MBA, purchase activity is down 4% year-over-year unadjusted.

Note: Red is a four-week average (blue is weekly).

by Calculated Risk on 11/23/2021 09:00:00 PM

Wednesday:
• At 7:00 AM ET, The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index.

• At 8:30 AM, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released.  The consensus is for 270 thousand initial claims, up from 268 thousand last week.

• Also at 8:30 AM, Gross Domestic Product, 3nd quarter 2020 (Second estimate). The consensus is that real GDP increased 2.1% annualized in Q3, up from 2.0% in the advance estimate of GDP.

• Also at 8:30 AM, Durable Goods Orders for October from the Census Bureau. The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in durable goods orders.

• At 10:00 AM, Personal Income and Outlays for October. The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in personal income, and for a 1.0% increase in personal spending. And for the Core PCE price index to increase 0.4%.

• Also at 10:00 AM, New Home Sales for October from the Census Bureau. The consensus is for 801 thousand SAAR, up from 800 thousand in September.

• At 10:00 AM, University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index (Final for November). The consensus is for a reading of 66.8.

• At 2:00 PM, FOMC Minutes, Meeting of November 2-3, 2021

by Calculated Risk on 11/23/2021 05:43:00 PM

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in October was 1.32%, down from 1.46% in September. Freddie's rate is down year-over-year from 2.89% in October 2020.

Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble, and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.

These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure".

Click on graph for larger image

Mortgages in forbearance are being counted as delinquent in this monthly report, but they will not be reported to the credit bureaus.

This is very different from the increase in delinquencies following the housing bubble.   Lending standards have been fairly solid over the last decade, and most of these homeowners have equity in their homes - and they will be able to restructure their loans once (if) they are employed.

Also - for multifamily - delinquencies were at 0.10%, down from the peak of 0.20% in April 2021.

by Calculated Risk on 11/23/2021 05:15:00 PM

The CDC is the source for all data.

According to the CDC, on Vaccinations.  Total doses administered: 452,704,982.

COVID Metrics
	Today	Week Ago	Goal
Percent fully Vaccinated	59.0%	---	≥70.0%1
Fully Vaccinated (millions)	196.0	---	≥2321
New Cases per Day3🚩	93,668	84,051	≤5,0002
Hospitalized3🚩	42,841	40,688	≤3,0002
Deaths per Day3	1,009	1,032	≤502
1 Minimum to achieve "herd immunity" (estimated between 70% and 85%). 2my goals to stop daily posts, 37-day average for Cases, Currently Hospitalized, and Deaths 🚩 Increasing 7-day average week-over-week for Cases, Hospitalized, and Deaths ✅ Goal met.

IMPORTANT: For "herd immunity" most experts believe we need 70% to 85% of the total population fully vaccinated (or already had COVID).  Note: COVID will probably stay endemic (at least for some time).

KUDOS to the residents of the 5 states that have achieved 70% of total population fully vaccinated: Vermont at 72.6%, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts at 70.8%.

KUDOS also to the residents of the 16 states and D.C. that have achieved 60% of total population fully vaccinated: New York at 68.1%, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, Oregon, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Delaware, Florida, and Hawaii at 60.7%.

The following 19 states have between 50% and 59.9% fully vaccinated: Wisconsin at 59.3%, Nebraska, Iowa, Utah, Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, North Carolina, Alaska, Ohio, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Missouri and Indiana at 50.5%.

Next up (total population, fully vaccinated according to CDC) are Georgia at 49.3%, Tennessee at 49.3%, Arkansas at 49.0%, Louisiana at 48.6% and North Dakota at 48.6%.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the daily (columns) and 7-day average (line) of positive tests reported.

by Calculated Risk on 11/23/2021 11:19:00 AM

Today, in the Real Estate Newsletter: Final Look: Local Housing Markets in October

Excerpt:

Here is a summary of active listings for the housing markets that have reported in October. For these markets, inventory was down 5.9% in October MoM from September, and down 26.5% YoY.

Of these markets, inventories in Jacksonville, Miami and San Diego are at record lows. Sacramento and Washington, D.C. are the only markets with inventory up YoY in October (Austin is essentially unchanged YoY).

Inventory almost always declines seasonally in October, so the MoM decline is not a surprise. Last month, these markets were down 24.5% YoY, so the YoY decline in October is larger than in September. This is not indicating a slowing market.

In California, the C.A.R. reported inventory was down 18.3% YoY, but this isn’t included in the table since C.A.R. doesn’t report monthly numbers.

You can subscribe at https://calculatedrisk.substack.com/ (Currently all content is available for free, but please subscribe).

by Calculated Risk on 11/23/2021 09:16:00 AM

Last month, in the Real Estate Newsletter, I wrote: The Coming Deceleration in House Price Growth

Here is an update to the graph:

Not only is Case-Shiller released with a lag (the release next week will be for September, whereas the NAR release yesterday was for October), but the 3-month average means the September release will include sales in July and August too.

Although median prices can be distorted by the mix, and repeat sales indexes (like Case-Shiller and the FHFA) are more accurate measures of house prices, the median price index might provide earlier hints on the direction of prices.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph - as of the NAR release in October 2020 (a year ago) - shows median prices started to take off, even though the most recent Case-Shiller report only showed a very modest pickup in prices.

This shows the lag in the Case-Shiller report.

The second graph - as of the NAR release yesterday - shows that Case-Shiller followed the median prices up, and that median prices are now falling.

 Note: the NAR YoY change in September 2021 was revised down, so there was a slight uptick in October prices YoY.

This suggests that Case-Shiller will start to show some deceleration later this year - but still be up solidly YoY.

by Calculated Risk on 11/22/2021 06:23:00 PM

From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Under Pressure After Powell Nomination and Bond Auctions

Mortgage rates began the new week on a bad note with the average lender full erasing the improvement seen on Friday. This leaves many lenders at their highest levels since April, but in those cases, it should be noted that today's rates are extremely close to those seen in late October. In other words, we're essentially back in line with the highest levels in more than 7 months. [30 year fixed 3.24%]
emphasis added

by Calculated Risk on 11/22/2021 03:05:00 PM

The CDC is the source for all data.

According to the CDC, on Vaccinations.  Total doses administered: 452,657,967, as of a week ago 442,005,260, or 1.52 million doses per day.

COVID Metrics
	Today	Week Ago	Goal
Percent fully Vaccinated	59.2%	58.8%	≥70.0%1
Fully Vaccinated (millions)	196.4	195.3	≥2321
New Cases per Day3🚩	91,021	81,495	≤5,0002
Hospitalized3🚩	40,755	40,485	≤3,0002
Deaths per Day3	985	1,042	≤502
1 Minimum to achieve "herd immunity" (estimated between 70% and 85%). 2my goals to stop daily posts, 37-day average for Cases, Currently Hospitalized, and Deaths 🚩 Increasing 7-day average week-over-week for Cases, Hospitalized, and Deaths ✅ Goal met.

IMPORTANT: For "herd immunity" most experts believe we need 70% to 85% of the total population fully vaccinated (or already had COVID).  Note: COVID will probably stay endemic (at least for some time).

KUDOS to the residents of the 5 states that have achieved 70% of total population fully vaccinated: Vermont at 72.6%, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts at 70.8%.

KUDOS also to the residents of the 16 states and D.C. that have achieved 60% of total population fully vaccinated: New York at 68.1%, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, Oregon, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Delaware, Florida, and Hawaii at 60.7%.

The following 19 states have between 50% and 59.9% fully vaccinated: Wisconsin at 59.3%, Nebraska, Iowa, Utah, Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, North Carolina, Alaska, Ohio, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Missouri and Indiana at 50.5%.

Next up (total population, fully vaccinated according to CDC) are Georgia at 49.3%, Tennessee at 49.2%, Arkansas at 49.0%, Louisiana at 48.6% and North Dakota at 48.4%.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the daily (columns) and 7-day average (line) of positive tests reported.

by Calculated Risk on 11/22/2021 10:35:00 AM

Today, in the Real Estate Newsletter: Existing-Home Sales Increased to 6.34 million in October

Excerpt:

Sales in October (6.34 million SAAR) were up 0.8% from last month, and were 5.8% below the October 2020 sales rate.

Some of the increase in sales since the beginning of the pandemic was probably related to record low mortgage rates, strong second home buying, a strong stock market and favorable demographics.

Also, the delay in the 2020 buying season pushed the seasonally adjusted number to very high levels over the winter. This means there are going to be some difficult year-over-year (YoY) comparisons in the last quarter of 2021.

This graph shows existing home sales by month for 2020 and 2021.

This was the third month this year with sales down year-over-year. This should continue through the rest of the year, since sales averaged 6.7million SAAR over the last three months of 2020.

You can subscribe at https://calculatedrisk.substack.com/ (Currently all content is available for free, but please subscribe).