加息让美国人的买房梦更难实现
在房价飞涨、可得性降低、竞争激烈、抵押贷款利率不断上升的情况下，首次购房者正努力克服各种困难购买他们梦想中的房子。
今天的新闻于事无补。美联储（Federal Reserve）于9月21日再次将联邦基准利率上调0.75个百分点，这是美联储今年以来第五次加息，以缓解通胀。这将影响可调利率抵押贷款和房屋净值信贷额度，并可能间接推高15年期和30年期固定抵押贷款利率。
Bankrate.com的首席金融分析师格雷格·麦克布莱德在一份声明中表示：“通胀仍然在持续升温，并没有像预期的那样迅速缓解。”
30年期固定抵押贷款平均利率在本周跃升至6.47%。这是自2008年以来的最高水平，是一年前平均水平的两倍多。
美国劳工统计局（U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics）的数据显示，与去年同期相比，今年8月的美国通胀率达到8.3%，住房、尤其是租金是推高通胀的最大影响因素之一。虽然汽油和机票等价格的上涨正在放缓，但住房成本实际上正在加速上涨。
这对购房者尤其不利，因为通货膨胀和高抵押贷款利率正在削弱他们的购买力。注册理财规划师、前南卡罗来纳州抵押贷款人约翰·库珀称，当利率上升时，同一套房子的价格将高于利率较低时的价格，这迫使首次购房者重新调整预算。
一些人因为房价过高而被迫退出房地产市场，而另一些人则在无法满足贷款机构严格的债务收入比时失去贷款资格。
例如，一套35万美元、首付为3.5%、30年期抵押贷款利率为3%的房子，月供为1,423美元，这还不包括税费。根据Bankrate的数据，在其他条件相同的情况下，当抵押贷款利率上升至6.5%时，月供将增加到2,134美元，相当于在贷款期限内额外支付255,960美元。
拥有美国联邦住房管理局（Federal Housing Administration）贷款资格的首次购房者也面临更高的利率。美国抵押贷款银行家协会（Mortgage Bankers Association）的每周调查显示，由美国联邦住房管理局支持的30年期固定抵押贷款利率——旨在通过降低首付款和房地产买卖手续费来帮助中低收入的首次购房者——从上周的5.61%上升至5.71%。
尽管如此，买家退出房地产市场对于有能力继续购买库存有限的住房的首次购房者来说可能是一件好事情。
首次购房者现在可以做什么
每月的价格差异让许多潜在购房者不确定他们是应该立即买房，还是等待抵押贷款利率降低。没有人能够把握好市场时机，但如果购房者可以负担得起不断上涨的租金，情况可能就会好转。
“我认为抵押贷款利率将在12个月到24个月内下降。”库珀说。“如果购房者愿意等待，那么抵押贷款环境很可能就会改善，这意味着在此期间，利率会降低。”
由于首次购房者没有房屋出售获得的资产来与多次购房者竞争，他们也能够利用这段时间节省更多的首付。库珀表示，如果购房者可以省下购房金额的20%，他们就能够避免支付私人抵押贷款保险，这可以为他们每月节省数百美元。
富国银行（Wells Fargo）负责消费贷款的高级副总裁汤姆·戈伊达说，对已经压力很大的房地产市场中的首次购房者而言，虽然今天的消息可能更令人沮丧，但那些仍然打算购买梦想中的房子的人应该考虑申请抵押贷款预批准，以表明他们诚意十足，还做好了准备。
预批准还能够让购房者更准确地了解他们的潜在贷款金额、月供和利率，这样他们就可以开始为每月的支出做预算。
总体而言，购房者能够做的最重要的事情是确保他们可以轻松负担得起月供。（财富中文网）
译者：中慧言-王芳
在房价飞涨、可得性降低、竞争激烈、抵押贷款利率不断上升的情况下，首次购房者正努力克服各种困难购买他们梦想中的房子。
今天的新闻于事无补。美联储（Federal Reserve）于9月21日再次将联邦基准利率上调0.75个百分点，这是美联储今年以来第五次加息，以缓解通胀。这将影响可调利率抵押贷款和房屋净值信贷额度，并可能间接推高15年期和30年期固定抵押贷款利率。
Bankrate.com的首席金融分析师格雷格·麦克布莱德在一份声明中表示：“通胀仍然在持续升温，并没有像预期的那样迅速缓解。”
30年期固定抵押贷款平均利率在本周跃升至6.47%。这是自2008年以来的最高水平，是一年前平均水平的两倍多。
美国劳工统计局（U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics）的数据显示，与去年同期相比，今年8月的美国通胀率达到8.3%，住房、尤其是租金是推高通胀的最大影响因素之一。虽然汽油和机票等价格的上涨正在放缓，但住房成本实际上正在加速上涨。
这对购房者尤其不利，因为通货膨胀和高抵押贷款利率正在削弱他们的购买力。注册理财规划师、前南卡罗来纳州抵押贷款人约翰·库珀称，当利率上升时，同一套房子的价格将高于利率较低时的价格，这迫使首次购房者重新调整预算。
一些人因为房价过高而被迫退出房地产市场，而另一些人则在无法满足贷款机构严格的债务收入比时失去贷款资格。
例如，一套35万美元、首付为3.5%、30年期抵押贷款利率为3%的房子，月供为1,423美元，这还不包括税费。根据Bankrate的数据，在其他条件相同的情况下，当抵押贷款利率上升至6.5%时，月供将增加到2,134美元，相当于在贷款期限内额外支付255,960美元。
拥有美国联邦住房管理局（Federal Housing Administration）贷款资格的首次购房者也面临更高的利率。美国抵押贷款银行家协会（Mortgage Bankers Association）的每周调查显示，由美国联邦住房管理局支持的30年期固定抵押贷款利率——旨在通过降低首付款和房地产买卖手续费来帮助中低收入的首次购房者——从上周的5.61%上升至5.71%。
尽管如此，买家退出房地产市场对于有能力继续购买库存有限的住房的首次购房者来说可能是一件好事情。
首次购房者现在可以做什么
每月的价格差异让许多潜在购房者不确定他们是应该立即买房，还是等待抵押贷款利率降低。没有人能够把握好市场时机，但如果购房者可以负担得起不断上涨的租金，情况可能就会好转。
“我认为抵押贷款利率将在12个月到24个月内下降。”库珀说。“如果购房者愿意等待，那么抵押贷款环境很可能就会改善，这意味着在此期间，利率会降低。”
由于首次购房者没有房屋出售获得的资产来与多次购房者竞争，他们也能够利用这段时间节省更多的首付。库珀表示，如果购房者可以省下购房金额的20%，他们就能够避免支付私人抵押贷款保险，这可以为他们每月节省数百美元。
富国银行（Wells Fargo）负责消费贷款的高级副总裁汤姆·戈伊达说，对已经压力很大的房地产市场中的首次购房者而言，虽然今天的消息可能更令人沮丧，但那些仍然打算购买梦想中的房子的人应该考虑申请抵押贷款预批准，以表明他们诚意十足，还做好了准备。
预批准还能够让购房者更准确地了解他们的潜在贷款金额、月供和利率，这样他们就可以开始为每月的支出做预算。
总体而言，购房者能够做的最重要的事情是确保他们可以轻松负担得起月供。（财富中文网）
译者：中慧言-王芳
First-time home buyers are working against all odds to land their dream home amid skyrocketing housing prices, low availability, fierce competition, and ever-increasing mortgage interest rates.
Today’s news won’t help. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by another 0.75% on September 21, the fifth hike this year, in an attempt to ease inflation. That will affect adjustable-rate mortgages and home equity lines of credit, and potentially boost mortgage rates for 15- and 30-year fixed loans indirectly.
“Inflation is still running hot and is not easing as fast as expected,” Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, said in a statement.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate jumped to 6.47% this week. That’s the highest since 2008, and is more than double the average rate from a year ago.
Housing, especially rent, is one of the largest drivers of the inflation increase, which hit 8.3% in August compared to a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While price increases for things like gasoline and airfares are slowing, housing costs are actually increasing at an accelerating rate.
This is especially harmful for home buyers because inflation and high mortgage rates are working to dwindle their purchasing power. When rates rise, the same home will cost buyers more than it would have at a lower interest rate, forcing first-time buyers to rejigger their budgets, says John Cooper, a certified financial planner and former mortgage lender in South Carolina.
Some are priced out completely, while others lose their mortgage eligibility when they can no longer meet lenders’ strict debt-to-income ratios.
For instance, a 30-year mortgage rate of 3% on a $350,000 house with a 3.5% down payment has a monthly mortgage payment of $1,423, not including taxes and fees. All else the same, a 6.5% mortgage rate increases your monthly payment to $2,134, equating to an additional $255,960 over the life of the loan, according to Bankrate.
First-time homebuyers with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are also facing higher rates. The 30-year fixed rate mortgages backed by the FHA—which are intended to help low- and moderate-income first-time buyers by lowering down payments and closing costs—increased from 5.61% last week to 5.71%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey.
All this said, buyers dropping out of the market could be a boon for first-time buyers who can afford to keep shopping the limited inventory.
What first-time homebuyers can do now
This monthly price difference has many potential buyers questioning whether they should try to buy now—or wait for lower rates. No one can time the market, but things may get better for buyers, if they can afford rising rents.
“My belief is that mortgage rates will be lower in 12 to 24 months,” says Cooper. “If a homebuyer is willing to wait, the mortgage environment most likely will improve, meaning lower interest rates, during that time.”
Since first-time buyers don’t have equity from a home sale to compete with repeat buyers, they can also use this time as an opportunity to save up a larger down payment. If they can save 20% of the purchase amount, buyers can avoid taking out private mortgage insurance which could save the buyer hundreds of dollars each month, says Cooper.
While today’s news might seem like more discouragement for first-time buyers in an already stressful market, those still set on purchasing their dream home should consider applying for a mortgage pre-approval to show that they are a serious and prepared buyer, says Tom Goyda, senior vice president of consumer lending for Wells Fargo.
A pre-approval can also give the buyer a more accurate idea of their potential loan amount, monthly payment, and interest rate so they can begin budgeting for their monthly expenses.
Overall, the most important thing a buyer can do is make sure they can comfortably afford their monthly mortgage payments.
