Chicago's Mortgage Choice - April 7, 2015 Real Estate Trends - So, How Was It?

With all the buildup we gave the March unemployment report, the next question is...how was it? Was it really as important a release as we have described? Generally, the jobs data is very important, but this report had the potential for real impact coming on the heels of six months of strong jobs data and being released two weeks after the Federal Reserve Board's Open Market Committee considered how quickly they should raise short-term interest rates. The result was good news with regard to the upcoming rise in interest rates in the form of bad news from the labor sector. The increase of 126,000 jobs was just about half of what was predicted by economist ahead of time. In addition, the previous two months of data were revised down by almost 70,000 jobs. The unemployment rate remained steady at 5.5%. In response to the weak report, market analysts seem to be pointing their fingers at the bad weather we experienced in February, as well as layoffs in the energy sector, by way of explanation. We will note that one soft month does not indicate a trend, especially during a rough winter month and with data that is often revised the following month. But the results will give the Fed some hesitation. What could save us from an imminent rate hike even if this report was a one month anomaly? A strong dollar and low oil prices both lower the threat of inflation. In addition, wage inflation, which remains muted for now, is as important as the number of jobs we create. The key is inflation, or more precisely, the lack of it. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - March 31, 2015 Real Estate Report - A Crucial Employment Report

Every month the employment report is very, very important. The creation of jobs not only tells us how the economy is performing, the report also tells us how the economy will be performing in the future. When we create a significant number of jobs, we know that these jobs will create more jobs because those who have become employed will spend more money on a variety of goods. This week, we feel that the March employment report is even more important than usual. Why? For one, after the creation of almost 300,000 jobs per month over the past six months, we know that the Federal Reserve Board is getting closer to raising short-term interest rates. Any number close to 300,000 this month may move the Fed to a tipping point. In their most recent meeting the Fed removed the word patience from their guidance but at the same time, indicated that they will not be "impatient." Secondly, we are looking at another number besides the number of jobs created. We are looking at those who have removed themselves from the labor force as a result of the recession. If some of these folks start coming back into the labor force, the unemployment rate could increase or at least stay the same even with a significant number of jobs created. If the economy produces a plethora of jobs and the unemployment number stays steady or rises, this would actually be good news. It means that our economic recovery is finally starting to reach mainstream America. The low labor force participation rate is one reason the Fed has been able to hold off raising rates for so long into the recovery. It is also one reason that wages have not risen as jobs have been created. Hopefully, this will soon change. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - March 17, 2015 Real Estate Trends - We Call a Bottom

It is not often that we go out on a limb and make a prediction about the future. That is because one of our favorite sayings is -- you can't predict the future. However, sometimes we just can't resist. What bottom are we predicting? The rate of home ownership in America. It has been falling for nearly a decade and in the fourth quarter of 2014, it hit the lowest level in over two decades at 63.9 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. The peak for the home ownership rate was just under 70% during the real estate boom. Why is it going up from here? There is a plethora of reasons. For one, it is getting easier to own a home because credit standards are lower. Secondly, the cost of renting keeps going up and it just makes more economic sense to own. When renting is more expensive than owning, before the benefits of tax deductions and the forced savings of principal reduction are taken into account, then the economic message can't be ignored. The most important reason? The time is right. More jobs are being created and that means the rate of household formation is increasing. A report recently issued by the Lusk Center For Real Estate at the University of Southern California indicates that we are now at pre-recessions levels of household formulations. That means that the Millennials are moving out and they will need places to live. The first quarter of 2015 statistics have not been released yet, but we think we are at or near the bottom and the rate of ownership will rise from here unless there is a major intervening economic variable. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - March 3, 2015 Real Estate Trends - Is it Spring & Jobs Report Time Already?

It sure doesn't feel like spring on the east coast. However, our calendar tells us that it is March and this week we have two important events -- Daylight Saving Time starts this week, which means we must turn our clocks forward and we have another jobs report being released. It seems like we just had a jobs report to comment on, but we must remember that February is a short month. The jobs data has been so strong lately, our guess is that projections are starting to creep up. There was a time not long ago in which 200,000 jobs added was considered a fantastic month. Now 200,000 may be considered a disappointment. If we continue to add jobs at the rate of 250,000 per month, it is possible that the Federal Reserve Board will raise short term rates more quickly than anticipated. Evidence the fact that rates moved up significantly during the week of the last jobs report. The move was not enough to shake the markets nor enough to deter consumers from purchasing homes. However, that does not mean another strong report could not move rates up another notch. The real estate data released in the past week was not especially strong with existing sales slightly lower than expectations and new home sales slightly higher than expectations. Even though the data was not strong, the numbers continued to be improved on a year-over-year basis -- thus the market is moving in the right direction and the very strong pending home sales numbers released on Friday confirms that assessment. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - February 24, 2015 Real Estate Trends - The Surging Dollar

In the past few months, we have focused upon many factors affecting the economy. These have included low oil prices and interest rates. The same international economic and political factors which have pushed rates and energy prices lower and contributed to volatility in the stock market, also have caused the U.S. Dollar to surge to levels not seen for years. There are many positives associated with a stronger dollar. For one, our dollar is strong because our economy right now is stronger than many other countries, especially Europe. In addition, a stronger dollar makes imports and travel cheaper, which lowers the threat of inflation and helps keep our interests rates low. However, there is a negative side of a strong dollar. Because our exports become more expensive to foreign nations, it can slow our economy and cost us jobs. Like everything in life, each economic factor creates balances. If our economy is stronger than others, the stronger dollar can bring it down a notch. Here is the good news. With low oil prices and interest rates, the consumer has a chance to be an economic star in 2015. The creation of more jobs and low rates could very well turn into great news for the real estate market in 2015 and thus offset the negative effects of a stronger dollar. Meanwhile, it is a good time to book a hotel room in Europe and many other places. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - February 17, 2015 Real Estate Report - Have We Hit Bottom?

Usually, when we hear that someone or something has "hit bottom" -- that is a good thing, because the only direction that person or thing can go from there is up. On the other hand, if we are talking about oil prices and interest rates, hitting a bottom might not be considered a good thing. For example, if you were looking for gas prices to hit $2.50 per gallon, they are not going near that price if we have indeed already hit bottom. Indeed, there is some evidence that oil prices bottomed around $45 per barrel. We are not surprised by the fact that oil prices rebounded to the $50 per barrel range because they had fallen so far and so fast. Often markets overshoot the fundamentals and come back to be in balance. Are oil prices going back to $100 per barrel? We have no idea because we can't predict the future. However, most likely the price will settle somewhere in between $45 and $100 without some major intervening economic or political variable. Interest rates too have been falling for the past few months. Not as precipitously as oil, but one must remember that rates were already very low. The fact that rates went back to the record low levels hit two years ago, was quite extraordinary and certainly not predicted. Like oil, we are not surprised that rates have rebounded somewhat. If a few weeks ago was the bottom, there will likely be a rush of those who waited too long. When homeowners and buyers realize that, we expect there to be lines forming to refinance or purchase a home. The question is -- is there still time to get in front of the line? Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

February 10, 2015 Real Estate Trends - The Employment Report is Released

For the first part of the year, the focus has been international news, rather than domestic economic reports. Not that we have not had our share of news, including the first meeting of the year for the Federal Reserve Board's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). The statement from the committee indicated some of the same emphasis on international news. This news has included increased economic stimulus in Europe where the economies continue to struggle. The stronger dollar and low price of oil are also affecting overseas economies -- as well as our own economy. It is unlikely that our interest rates would not be so low without the world-wide economies continuing to languish. The question is, will our economy continue to thrive through all of this world-wide economic and political turmoil? Thus, January's reading of the jobs situation released on Friday was all-important in this regard. What did the data show? It showed that our economy is continuing to strengthen as the world slows down. More jobs were created than expected, the previous months were revised even higher than originally reported and hourly earnings showed a healthy jump. Even the higher unemployment rate was seen as a positive as this was due to more job seekers entering the market. Any increase in the labor participation rate is viewed as a sign of an increasingly confident consumer. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000