That’s made it a magnet for buyers from outside Texas – not least because while some are able to keep their out-of-state jobs and work remotely, the city also has a “very solid” jobs market that’s accessible to plenty of movers, Tubau said.
Attention from outside buyers is having another impact on the housing market: “[A lot of] people that are selling their properties from out of state tend to have a lot more equity and upfront cash,” she added, “and so of course that affects the market as far as cash buyers and things like that.”
What’s top of mind for loan officers in the current market?
Amid a recent market shift that’s seen mortgage rates fall – to an average of 6.44% for a 30-year fixed offering at last reading – educating clients and adding maximum value has been especially top of mind for Tubau.
MBA vice president and deputy chief economist Joel Kan reported that mortgage rates declined for the fourth consecutive week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate now at 6.44%.
Read more: https://t.co/laHXzUFnST
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) August 29, 2024
That can involve a frank discussion on whether a home purchase makes sense for a borrower in the current environment. “You don’t need to be pushing people to buy homes constantly,” she said. “I don’t feel like that’s what our role is, because it’s a huge commitment. It’s a huge debt.
“So I go more along the lines of educating people as far as the interest rate [goes], whether or not you should be spending money buying points right now… just general overall financial education rather than trying to sell or convince someone to take the deal.”
