Capital Economics Revises Home Price Forecast Upward

From RealTrends.com Strong demand and tight inventory have brought existing home sales back to “normal” levels, and further gains are possible, according to the latest market report from Capital Economics. Additionally, market conditions may prompt lenders to “loosen the purse strings slightly” and lend a little more freely.

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Mortgage Applications Continue Rising

From RealTrends.com: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a rise of 7% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, following a rise of 15.2% for the previous week.

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Housing a Sweet Spot for U.S. Economy as Recovery Expands

From RealTrends.com: U.S. home sales and prices are poised to rise in 2013, solidifying a recovery that began last year after a half-decade slump that was the deepest since the Great Depression, according to analysts and economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Record-low mortgage rates and attractive prices, supported by declining unemployment, are luring buyers as the inventory of distressed homes shrinks. Homebuilders are responding by adding supply, bolstering economic growth.

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