Despite Price Spikes, Homeownership Remains Affordable

Two reports—from ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., and First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif.—say despite sharp spikes in home prices, homeownership remains affordable for most workers, which continues to drive housing demand.

ATTOM: Refis Push 4Q Lending Activity Up 5.5%

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., reported a 5.5 percent increase in residential mortgage activity during the fourth quarter and a nearly 50 percent increase from a year ago to its highest level in nearly 14 years.

With Moratoria in Place, ‘Zombie’ Properties Fade

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said just 175,000 vacant properties entered the foreclosure process in the first quarter—a reflection of ongoing national and local foreclosure/eviction moratoria.

Housing Market Roundup

Here’s a quick-hit summary of several housing and housing finance reports released over the past several days:

ATTOM Reports Record-Low Foreclosures; MBA Releases National Delinquency Survey Today

This morning, the Mortgage Bankers Association releases its 4th Quarter National Delinquency Survey. Ahead of that, ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., yesterday said just 9,701 U.S. properties reported foreclosure filings in January, down by 11 percent from a month ago and down by 80 percent from a year ago.

ATTOM: 4Q Home Equity Improves

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., released its fourth-quarter U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, which noted an increase to 17.8 million residential properties in the United States considered equity-rich—the combined estimated amount of loans secured by those properties was 50 percent or less of their estimated market value.

Home Seller Profits Soar to Highest Rates Since 2005

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said home sellers nationwide in 2020 realized a home-price gain of $68,843 on the typical sale, up from $53,700 in 2019 and $48,500 two years ago.

East Coast Housing Remains Vulnerable to Coronavirus Impact

Nearly a year after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, housing markets in the Northeast and other parts of the East Coast remained most at risk during fourth quarter, said ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif.