Housing Market Roundup: Apr. 15, 2021

Beware the Ides of April—unless it’s news you seek. Because we have plenty of housing market reports below to slake your thirst.

Housing Market Roundup

Among the many housing reports that came across our desk this week: Genworth Mortgage Insurance said 2020 was the “best year on record” for first-time home buyers; Radian said February home prices accelerated; Black Knight reported mortgage delinquencies rose for the first time in nine months; and Redfin said the home-buying process is becoming a headache for many consumers.

2021 Housing Market ‘Red Hot’

The past year has been like no other, housing-wise. Near-record-low interest rates, tight housing supplies and greater flexibility in where one lives have pushed a normally predictable housing cycle into uncharted territory, as three new housing reports show.

Housing Market Roundup

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

Record-Low Inventories Drive Record-Low Contract Periods

With record-low housing inventories and sharply increasing home prices, what else could happen? How about record-low contract periods, according to both Redfin, Seattle, and Zillow, Seattle.