The GOP tax bill dominated news headlines this week, especially after its official announcement on Thursday. The housing industry was quick to judge several of the provisions as having massively negative impacts.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Just How Much Could The Tax Plan Affect Housing?

There was a striking disparity in two separate reports on home sales this week. According to one, things are great and look to be firing on all cylinders. According to the other, things are “less upbeat” to put it mildly. Which one is telling the truth?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Home Sales Lying? And Why Are Rates Flying?

Some weeks are fairly straightforward with one or two defining moments and clear takeaways in the economic data. This was not one of those weeks!
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
More Than Meets The Eye in Housing and Rates This Week

Rates have been doing more rising than falling recently. Home sales have leveled-off, and we’re entering the slower time of year for the housing market. If you wanted to be pessimistic, you’d have evidence for your case. But how about an opposing argument?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
4 Great Reasons Housing Has Room to Run

Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Resilient Housing Data and Record Stock Prices Ahead of Long Weekend

Much was made of the Trump administration’s tax plan, officially released this week. At first glance, it caused rates to spike in the middle of the week, abruptly derailing a decent recovery. But how much credit does it deserve?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Rates Spike, Home Sales Slide, Blame The Tax Plan?

The Federal Reserve finally pulled the trigger on its much-anticipated balance sheet normalization plan. This was billed as big news–a major turning point in US monetary policy. While that’s arguably true, markets were far more interested in other parts of the Fed announcement.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
The Real Reason Rates Reacted to The Fed This Week

Last week, we discussed why rates keep breaking to new lows in 2017. This week we’ll take a closer look at why they abruptly spiked to the highest levels of the month, and examine the potential market movers on the horizon.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
This Week's Rate Spike and The Risks Ahead

After the presidential election last November, a clear narrative took root in financial markets. A Trump presidency was supposed to result in faster policy tightening at the Fed, more growth, more inflation, and higher rates. With each new move to 2017’s lowest rates, that narrative continues to unravel. This week provided a great example.
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Why Rates Keep Breaking 2017 Lows

In the natural world and financial markets alike, September is a month of transition. This particular September holds some risks for the recently strong performance in mortgage rates. Meanwhile home sales numbers are increasingly sluggish. Should you be concerned?
Source: Kevin Litwicki Universal Lending
Time To Be Concerned About Housing and Rates?