by Calculated Risk on 3/27/2013 12:38:00 PM

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency rate declined in February to 3.15% from 3.20% in January. The serious delinquency rate is down from 3.57% a year ago (February 2012), and this is the lowest level since mid-2009.

The Freddie Mac serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20%.

Fannie Mae hasn't reported for February yet.

Note: These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure".

Click on graph for larger image

Although this indicates some progress, the "normal" serious delinquency rate is under 1%.  At the recent pace of improvement, it will take several years until the rates are back to normal.

NOTE: When Fannie Mae eventually releases their annual report for 2012, I'll post a graph of Real Estate Owned (REO) by Fannie, Freddie and the FHA (This is real estate that the agencies acquired through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu and haven't sold yet). Both Freddie and the FHA reported that their REO declined in Q4, and the combined total will be at the lowest level since 2009. Also the FDIC reported that the dollar value of REO for FDIC insured institutions declined in Q4, and it appears the private label REO declined too.

by Calculated Risk on 3/27/2013 10:05:00 AM

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Slip on Constrained Inventory

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, slipped 0.4 percent to 104.8 in February from a downwardly revised 105.2 in January, but is 8.4 percent higher than February 2012 when it was 96.6. Contract activity has been above year-ago levels for the past 22 months; the data reflect contracts but not closings.
...
The PHSI in the Northeast declined 2.5 percent to 82.8 in February but is 6.8 percent above February 2012. In the Midwest the index rose 0.4 percent to 103.6 in February and is 13.2 percent higher than a year ago. Pending home sales in the South slipped 0.3 percent to an index of 118.8 in February but are 12.1 percent above February 2012. In the West the index increased 0.1 percent in February to 101.4 but is 0.8 percent below a year ago.

"The volume of home sales appears to be leveling off with the constrained inventory conditions, and the leveling of the index means little change is likely in the pace of sales over the next couple months," [Lawrence Yun , NAR chief economist] said.

Contract signings usually lead sales by about 45 to 60 days, so this would usually be for closed sales in March and April.

As I've noted several times, with limited inventory at the low end and fewer foreclosures, we might see flat or even declining existing home sales. The key is that the number of conventional sales is increasing while foreclosures and short sales decline - and that is a sign of an improving market, even if total sales decline.

by Calculated Risk on 3/27/2013 08:31:00 AM

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

The Refinance Index increased 8 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 7 percent from one week earlier.
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,500 or less) decreased to 3.79 percent from 3.82 percent, with points increasing to 0.44 from 0.38 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.
...
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,500) decreased to 3.90 percent from 3.95 percent, with points increasing to 0.42 from 0.36 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows the refinance index.

There has been a sustained refinance boom for over a year.

Refinance activity will probably slow in 2013.

The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.  The 4-week average of the purchase index has generally been trending up (slowly) over the last year.

by Calculated Risk on 3/26/2013 09:32:00 PM

The WSJ has an estimate of the losses for uninsured depositors in Cyprus: Cyprus Sets Bank Revamp Amid Protests

We are in no position to give you the exact amount this moment," [Central banker Panicos Demetriades] told reporters, referring to the amount that will be taken from large deposits at Bank of Cyprus, but he added "it's about 40%."

Based on estimates from government officials, the losses would affect some 19,000 deposit-holders at the Bank of Cyprus who, combined, hold some €8.01 billion ($10.30 billion) in uninsured deposits. Uninsured savers at Cyprus Popular Bank, who hold a combined €3.2 billion, will lose most of that.

"Realistically, very little will be returned," Finance Minister Michalis Sarris said in the interview broadcast on state television. "The amount [returned], could be 20%. Certainly, for depositors above €100,000 it could be a very significant blow," he said.

Wednesday economic releases:
• At 7:00 AM ET, The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index.

• At 10:00 AM, Pending Home Sales Index for February. The consensus is for a 0.7% decrease in this index.

Earlier:
• Case-Shiller: Comp 20 House Prices increased 8.1% year-over-year in January
• Real House Prices, Price-to-Rent Ratio, City Prices relative to 2000
• New Home Sales at 411,000 SAAR in February
• A few comments on New Home Sales

by Calculated Risk on 3/26/2013 06:41:00 PM

Note: The automakers will report March vehicle sales this coming Monday, April 1st. Here are a few forecasts:

From Reuters: US industry March auto sales tracking above 15 mln -Toyota exec

"So far, this month of March looks to be very good for all manufacturers," [Bob Carter, Toyota's senior vice president for U.S. auto operations] told industry executives at a conference ahead of the New York auto show. He said industry sales are tracking up 6.6 percent in March, with an annual rate of 15.2 million to 15.3 million vehicles.

From TrueCar: March 2013 New Car Sales Expected to Be Up Almost Five Percent According to TrueCar; March 2013 SAAR at 15.42M, Highest March SAAR Since 2007

The March 2013 forecast translates into a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate ("SAAR") of 15.42 million new car sales ... up from 14.1 million in March 2012.

From Kelley Blue Book: March New-Car Sales To Hit Highest Monthly Total Since August 2007 According To Kelley Blue Book

New-car sales will remain steady at a 15.2 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in March.

And from Reuters: U.S. auto sales could rise 8 pct in March -research firms

Sales of new cars and trucks in March are expected to rise to 1,465,100 vehicles, while the annual sales pace is forecast to hit 15.3 million vehicles, J.D. Power and LMC said in a joint report released on Thursday. Since November, the annual rate has ranged from 15.3 million to 15.5 million.

It appears auto sales were solid in March, and this suggests decent consumer spending growth in Q1.

Note: Most forecasts were for auto sales growth to slow in 2013 to around 4% growth or 15.0 million units. Based on the first few months, it appears sales will be stronger than expected this year.

Earlier:
• Case-Shiller: Comp 20 House Prices increased 8.1% year-over-year in January
• Real House Prices, Price-to-Rent Ratio, City Prices relative to 2000
• New Home Sales at 411,000 SAAR in February
• A few comments on New Home Sales