Economic Reports, Market Insight, Real Estate
Consumer Sentiment, Mortgage Rates, Home Prices…Oh My!
February 12, 2010 by James K Barath, CMPS · Leave a Comment
Consumer Sentiment has been on the rise since February 2009 and it’s something to which home buyers in Northwest Indiana should pay attention.
The affordability of your next home in Chesterton, Crown Point, Highland, Munster, Portage, Saint John, Schererville and Valparaiso may hinge on consumer confidence.
As the economy recovers from a near-the-brink recession, many of the elements of a full recovery are in place. Business investment is returning, household spending is expanding, and financial systems are gaining strength.
Consumer confidence is at a 2-year high.
What’s missing from the recovery, though, is jobs growth. Another net 20,000 jobs were lost in January. Data like that hinders economic growth.
That said, twenty-thousand jobs lost is a much better figure than the several hundred thousand that were shed per month throughout early-2009, but it’s still a net negative number. Not only does household income drop when Americans lose jobs but so does the average American’s confidence in his or her own economic future.
This is one reason why jobs growth is so closely watched by Wall Street — jobs are linked to higher confidence levels which, in turn, is believed to spur consumer spending.
Consumer spending represents 70% of the U.S. economy.
As confidence rises, it could be good news for the economy, but bad news for home buyers. More spending expands the economy and, all things equal, that leads mortgage rates higher.
Same for home prices. More confidence means more buyers which, in turn, squeezes the supply-and-demand curve in favor of sellers.
Early this morning, the University of Michigan released its February Consumer Sentiment survey to the surprise of many analysts. For the time being the lower-than-expected consumer sentiment reading is providing stability for mortgage rates and home affordability in Northwest Indiana.
If the reading is higher-than-expected in the coming months, prepare for mortgage rates to rise and home affordability to worsen throughout Northwest Indiana.
Contact James K Barath in Northwest Indiana to Qualify for Your FREE FHA Home Loan Approval Today!
About the Author: James K Barath is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and your Northwest Indiana FHA Home Loan Expert. He is also a graduate of Purdue University, The CMPS Institute, Dale Carnegie Human Relations Course & Napoleon Hill Foundation's PMA Science of Success Class. It's your home and your future. It's his profession and his passion. He is ready to work for your best interest. Contact James K Barath today and Get Qualified for Your FREE FHA Home Loan Approval!
His Motto: I Facilitate the American Dream Through Responsible Mortgage Lending and Financial Literacy! 
