patrick.net

A real estate agent I talked to said action was still brisk, but buyers have been less willing to bid above asking last few weeks due to the rate increases eroding their purchasing power.

This is in a super hot market that has essentially recovered to peak prices though, YMMV.

"Despite the run-up in rates, homes remain affordable in most markets across the nation, said Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Carrington Mortgage Holdings. Prices remain about 25% off their peak during the housing bubble."

What a useless definition of "affordable." They're less than peak! They're affordable!
I suppose that's why so many emphasize that house prices do go down. So many still believe they always go up. Who cares why they go up. Just do it. They'll go up. You'll be golden.

Forget about the recovery. Stupid recovery. Homes in most areas are expensive enough now. There is no need to make them more expensive to benefit banks and real estate agents. People still need money for other things besides mortgage payments. I wish rates would keep climbing quickly.

It's funny how people think something is a deal because the price fell. Those peak prices were crazy. They ended up falling because it was a bubble.

It would be like a gallon of milk selling for $30 next year. It then falls to $15 a few months later. It is down 50%, but is it really a good deal? Before it went up in price it was always selling for less than $4. So, even though it is down 50% to $15, it is still hundreds of percent above where it should be.

In my neck of the woods, homes fell 50%. But they are still 200% higher than they were a decade ago. Incomes are flat. Yet people are buying thinking the price should double again... Dumb.

Neither home price stability nor interest rate stability are desirable things in a market economy, since both are very important factors in balancing supply with demand. The key is that the prices and interest rates be allowed to reach a natural level based on market forces.

Price stability is a good thing, so people can plan their lives accordingly. Artificial price fixing is bad because that would lead to massive price instability when the "fix" breaks down.

The rally is over, and inventory has bottomed. On to the next bubble.

I feel bad for the people that wanted to buy eight years ago, but knew better then to get fleeced, but are still sitting on the sidelines now. They are obviously doing something wrong (looking in the wrong place). Why not move to the 99% rest of the country where housing is plenty affordable? Instead of participating in the madness of fighting over coastal calif RE. Its really not worth it

Coastal California RE is expensive, and I think over priced.

But it's days like this I'm glad I don't live inland.

Back on topic,

If rates jumped nearly a full percentage point based on Bernanke's uncertainty about continuing QE, imagine what would happen when it actually stops.

Say good bye to 3-4% rates in our life times.

82 feels like 81,,,,high of 104 and sunny with no rain in sight, sounds like a very dry climate

Ill trade you our 86 degrees currently with 99% humidity,,,feels like swimming in a pool of your own sweat, here in SE PA

errc says

Why not move to the 99% rest of the country where housing is plenty affordable? Instead of participating in the madness of fighting over coastal calif RE. Its really not worth it

Because that would mean buying a house is a higher priority than my quality of life.

Goran_K says

Back on topic,

If rates jumped nearly a full percentage point based on Bernanke's uncertainty about continuing QE, imagine what would happen when it actually stops.

Say good bye to 3-4% rates in our life times.

No chance that rates move much north from where they sit currently, the usfedgov/fedreserve will make sure of that

FunTime says

errc says

Why not move to the 99% rest of the country where housing is plenty affordable? Instead of participating in the madness of fighting over coastal calif RE. Its really not worth it

Because that would mean buying a house is a higher priority than my quality of life.

Then that means you've been hoodwinked to believe your quality of life is controlled by your ability to remain in uber awesome sf bay area. I know, I know, I've heard all the songs and seen all the movies myself, california is so effin cool!

I'm on my deck with my Macbook air, it's around 71-72, morning breeze, and I can see the waves, joggers, paddle boarders, beach bummers.

Don't know what swimming in your own sweat feels like. :)

FunTime says

Because that would mean buying a house is a higher priority than my quality
of life.

What is so special about the Bay Area that you don't think you'd find elsewhere?

CNN is still reporting mortgage rages are 4.48, when the rate chart says it's 4.58.

errc says

Why not move to the 99% rest of the country where housing is plenty affordable? Instead of participating in the madness of fighting over coastal calif RE. Its really not worth it

Like a farmer in the desert waiting on a hill of beans to grow.

CaptainShuddup says

CNN is still reporting mortgage rages are 4.48, when the rate chart says it's 4.58.

30 yr mortgage rates?

Amerisave says 3.75
Yahoo finance says 3.68

Not sure how accurate they are. Friend of mine is in the process now, and he's using 10/90, he said he expects to pay 4%, but isn't locked in. He's buying a completely redone house on an acre for 80$ per sq ft

Goran_K says

I'm on my deck with my Macbook air, it's around 71-72, morning breeze, and I can see the waves, joggers, paddle boarders, beach bummers.

Don't know what swimming in your own sweat feels like. :)

Trying to think how to describe the feeling of swimming in your own sweat, to someone who's never experienced anything like it

Imagine a booze fueled encounted with a curvaceous young, olive skinned hottie, where you've flipped her over and tossed her around the room six ways from Sunday, and shared more orgasms then you can count. You call a time out to drink a glass or two of water, to give yourselves a chance to catch your breath and leave off the punishment that your pleasure points have taken over the past hour.

Its like that, minus the sex, and a little bit more clothed

Overnight Avg Rate Latest Last Week
30 yr fixed 4.57% 4.05%

robertoaribas says

I'm going to ride my bike to work today, might need to carry two water bottles...

Is this why you're always so hot under the collar on Pat.net Roberto? 117 degrees?! Really?

errc says

Trying to think how to describe the feeling of swimming in your own sweat, to someone who's never experienced anything like it

Imagine a booze fueled encounted with a curvaceous young, olive skinned hottie, where you've flipped her over and tossed her around the room six ways from Sunday, and shared more orgasms then you can count. You call a time out to drink a glass or two of water, to give yourselves a chance to catch your breath and leave off the punishment that your pleasure points have taken over the past hour.

I did that once when I was in my 20s, a long, long, time ago.

myob says

Neither home price stability nor interest rate stability are desirable things in a market economy

Is this a serious post???

robertoaribas says

Could be! However, I was in park city for a conference 5 days last week, and flagstaff 2 days before that... Now, I'm out of options for the most part, but stay here. I am going to visit a friend in Sedona in two weeks, and go hiking and drinking there, but my breaks between now and September when it cools down, will be few and far between. A couple days in flag or payson here and there...

Phoenix in the summer sux, unfortunately, as dept summer chair, I can no longer just leave all summer...

I read somewhere that in Chicago, and Oakland, homicides spike in the Summer. I really do wonder if hot weather makes people's anger spike quicker.

varmint says

myob says

Neither home price stability nor interest rate stability are desirable things in a market economy

Is this a serious post???

During bubble years, I can only hope this is true, for the sake of future generations. That was my contention the whole time during the bubble years. If I could have fucked over my future generations, with a clear conscious. I would have snapped up a $790K 900 sqft shack and hopped it went to 3 million by next year.

errc says

Then that means you've been hoodwinked to believe your quality of life is controlled

I might benefit financially if I didn't like it so much here. What can a person do? You like what you like. Plus my work is here. I could force myself to move to the suburbs or something. Maybe I even will at some point, but right now that seems mad. I lived in Portland, I grew up in Colorado. What can I say? This is my home.

Goran_K says

I'm on my deck with my Macbook air, it's around 71-72, morning breeze, and I can see the waves, joggers, paddle boarders, beach bummers.

Laguna Beach is so awesome. I was in a band with people from that area and we spent time there every summer for a few years. Laguna, Scotchman's Bay(?), Dana Point, Huntington, Newport. Want to vacation there at some point.

tatupu70 says

What is so special about the Bay Area that you don't think you'd find elsewhere?

I find more people here with similar interests and priorities. That's the main thing. It is a very upsetting, lonely existance to live in an area where you disagree with much of the way people think and act. I grew up in rural Colorado. I love it there for many reasons, but I've lost touch with the people. The Denver Broncos are really important there! I love football, but no longer consider it important or the kind of priority that warrants much of my time.(Of course, I almost always go see the annual Broncos/Raiders game!)

San Francisco is walkable, which is important. I'd really like to eliminate my use of automobiles.

I'm a musician and the number of clubs and other artists makes it a lot easier to keep playing. One of my bandmates lives in Berkeley, the rest live in San Francisco.

I find the weather really, really wonderful. I thrive and feel more energy with sunlight. There's enough weather in San Francisco to sort of give some variety and the Summer's are certainly different, but it makes for a unique place.

Goran_K says

I really do wonder if hot weather makes people's anger spike quicker.

I think this happens everywhere. In Portland, it was pretty reliable to predict that when the weather got hot in July/August someone was going to get shot in Chinatown(which is an area of Portland with frequent crime)

At this point, I just think more people mixing leads to more crime against people. Just a statistical even related to people leaving their houses and interacting. I know nothing about which I'm writing, of course.

FunTime says

Laguna Beach is so awesome. I was in a band with people from that area and we spent time there every summer for a few years. Laguna, Scotchman's Bay(?), Dana Point, Huntington, Newport. Want to vacation there at some point.

Love Dana Point. Considered buying there too, just happened to find the deal in Laguna Beach.

Huntington and Newport seem to be more "lively" if you're into night time activities.

The new more reasonable mortgage rates have caused a lot of potential sellers to list their properties. In some cases buyers continue to over bid (I just did on a short I want to live in) but in other cases have caused less over bids.

Watch the asking price declines, they are increasing.

varmint says

myob says

Neither home price stability nor interest rate stability are desirable things in a market economy

Is this a serious post???

Some people misunderstand what housing is for.