U.S. house price inflation cools further in December

Though there are signs the housing market is stabilizing, with pending home sales rising by the most in more than 2-1/2 years in January and new home sales hitting a 10-month high, it will be a while before it turns around.

Mortgage rates have resumed their ascent after robust consumer spending and labor market data as well as strong monthly inflation readings raised the prospect of the U.S. central bank hiking interest rates into the summer. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to an average of 6.50% last week from 6.32% in the prior week, according to data from mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac. The third straight weekly increase lifted the rate to a three-month high.

A separate report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency on Tuesday showed home prices advanced 6.6% in the 12 months through December, the smallest rise since June 2020, after increasing 8.2% in November. They increased 6.6% in 2022 compared to a gain of 18.0% in 2021. While higher mortgage are hurting demand and cooling house price inflation, the FHFA noted that "these negative pressures were partially offset by historically low inventory."

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Pending home sales rise 8.1% in January, largest increase since June 2020A dip in mortgage rates pushed eager buyers to act and drove pending home sales higher. But the strong U.S. economy is helping drive mortgage rates up again, and the slowdown in demand will ultimately hit home prices. Lower mortgage rates increased home sales in January, but mortgage rates are now rising again. Who are the buyers occupants or landlords these prices and 7.5% 😅
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