Existing Home Sales hit nine-year highs, and the third reading of third quarter Gross Domestic Product charmed.
The National Association of REALTORS® reported that Existing Home Sales in November edged higher by 0.7 percent from October to an annual rate of 5.61 million units. Year-over-year, Existing Home Sales were up 15.4 percent, but that number could be distorted. "Know Before You Owe" or "TRID" rules went into effect November 2015, and many mortgage applications last year were pushed into December with the new requirements. November New Home Sales were also up 5.2 percent from October, coming in above expectations. 
Economic activity was alive and well in the third quarter of 2016. The final reading for third quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) came in at 3.5 percent, above the 3.3 percent expected and well above the anemic readings of 1.4 percent in the second quarter and 0.8 percent in the first quarter. Within the report, consumer spending was up 3.0 percent from 2.8 percent. Business investments surged to 1.4 percent from 0.1 percent.
GDP represents the total dollar value of all goods and services produced over a specific time period, and it's one of the primary indicators used to measure the health of a country's economy. This report was welcome news.
For homebuyers and homeowners looking to refinance, a strengthening economy may seem like a mixed blessing. Why? If our economy continues to strengthen, and Stocks continue to improve at the expense of Mortgage Bonds, home loan interest rates could slide higher.
Although home loan rates rose to their highest levels in 2016 at the close of the year, they are still in historically low territory.
If you or someone you know has any questions , please don't hesitate to contact me.
Forecast for the Week
Trading volumes should decrease in the week between Christmas and New Year's, but data releases don't take holiday vacation.
The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index will be released on Tuesday, followed by Pending Homes Sales on Wednesday.
Consumer Confidence will be delivered on Tuesday.
Thursday brings weekly Initial Jobless Claims.
Regional manufacturing data from the Chicago PMI will be reported on Friday.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve. In contrast, strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based.
When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving. When Bond prices are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.
To go one step further, a red "candle" means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green "candle" means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes are on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.
As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds gained a little ground recently.
Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday Dec 23, 2016)
