US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Oct.) The decline in mortgage interest rates to a 17-month low in October provided a temporary boost to refinancing activity. Mortgage applications for home purchase were still languishing in the doldrums... 5th November 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response CoreLogic House Prices (Sep.) The month-on-month increase in house prices in September suggests that the housing market is putting the very weak mid-year period behind it. But underlying rates of house price appreciation are still... 4th November 2014 · 1 min read
Global Markets Outlook Bubble in US Treasuries should deflate soon If recent history is any guide, Fed tightening is unlikely to derail stock markets to the extent that many fear. Our view is that while US equities will struggle to make further headway, they will... 31st October 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Focus Weighing up the FHFA’s mortgage proposals Proposals to lower the minimum down-payment on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages at the same time as reducing banks’ exposure to put-back risk may help accelerate the modest loosening in... 31st October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Cooling housing market won’t freeze the recovery Given the perceived boost to the economic recovery from strong gains in house prices over the past year or so, signs that the housing market is beginning to cool may raise concerns that the overall... 31st October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Oct.) House prices increased in October following a dip in the previous month, according to the Nationwide. But the bigger picture is that, with housing demand constrained, underlying house price growth... 30th October 2014 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Bank lending under pressure from new deposit rules New rules requiring banks to ensure that deposits at the end of each month deviate by no more than 3% from the monthly average are a new headwind for China’s economy. The rules are designed to prevent... 30th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lending (Sep.) According to the Bank of England, mortgage approvals fell once again in September, to a 14-month low. But with economic conditions still favourable, this weak patch shouldn’t last much longer. 29th October 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Homeownership & Vacancy Rates & Case-Shiller (Q3/Aug.) Today’s housing market data revealed a further slowdown in underlying house price growth, but the outlook for rental value growth is strengthening. 28th October 2014 · 1 min read
Europe Commercial Property Update Italian investment volumes set to grow after bank stress tests A low volume of “bad asset” sales helps to explain why Italy’s investment growth has lagged behind other countries. Yet the recent bank stress tests, combined with changes to the Italian REIT... 28th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Sep.) Following two months of very strong month-on-month growth, house prices dipped by 0.2% in September according to the Land Registry. Subdued demand suggests house price gains will continue to... 28th October 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Sep.) New home sales stalled in September, following the previous month’s jump. But with the economic backdrop still favourable and mortgage rates low, we expect sales will resume their upwards trend soon. 24th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Consumers to remain upbeat despite asset price falls On the face of it, the recent sharp fall in equity prices and slowdown in the housing market suggest that the significant improvement in consumer confidence seen over the last year might be reversed... 24th October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Sep.) The British Bankers’ Association reported that mortgage approvals dropped in September, leading to the first annual decline in loans for 18 months. But with lenders planning to boost the availability... 23rd October 2014 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What will Labour’s mansion tax mean for prime property values? Labour have now confirmed that their version of the mansion tax would be based around price bands, with homes valued at between £2m and £3m having to pay a flat rate charge of £3,000 per year. In... 22nd October 2014 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Sep.) The increase in existing home sales in September took sales activity to a 12-month high. Falling mortgage interest rates and a steadily improving labour market bode well for existing home sales from... 21st October 2014 · 1 min read
