Fannie Mae says its Home Purchase Loans Sentiment Index (HPSI), which, before a slight setback in July, had been rebounding strongly from its April COVID-19 related plunge, got back on track last month. The August index, based on responses to six questions in the National Housing Survey (NHS), increased 3.3 points to a 77.5 reading.
Five of the six components rose from their July level with consumers reporting a more optimistic view of both homebuying and home-selling conditions, but a slightly more pessimistic view of expected home price growth.
"The HPSI rose modestly in August, recovering the ground it lost in July," said Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist. "The HPSI's recovery was driven by near-record low mortgage rates that helped restore much of consumers' positivity on whether it is a good time to buy a home, while also improving the good-time-to-sell sentiment.
The August survey was conducted as consumers continue to face uncertainty regarding schools' and businesses' reopening plans and as the CARES Act $600-per-week income supplement expired."
The percentage of survey respondents who say it is a good time to buy a home and obtain a home purchase loan increased from 53 percent to 59 percent, while the percentage who say it is a bad time to buy decreased from 38 percent to 35 percent.
As a result, the net share of Americans who say it is a good time to buy increased 9 percentage points to 24 percent.
There was a similar improvement in the percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell a home. That sentiment increased from 45 to 48 percent, while those who said it was a bad time fell from 48 percent to 44 percent. This resulted in a net increase in those who say it is a good time to sell of 7 percentage points to 4.0 percent. The net is down 36 points compared to a year earlier. The National Housing Survey from which the HPSI is constructed, is conducted monthly by telephone among 1,000 consumers, both homeowners and renters. In addition to the six questions that are the framework of the index, respondents are asked questions about the economy, personal finances, attitudes about getting a mortgage, and questions to track attitudinal shifts. If you or someone you know is looking for a home loan, we are the best home mortgage lender in Georgia, and we hope you will contact us.