How would a COVID-19 vaccine impact the housing market?
November 16, 2020
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In today’s HousingWire Daily episode HW+ Managing Editor Brena Nath joins HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler to discuss the most compelling articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Brena and Sarah discuss the recent announcement on the progress of a 2nd coronavirus vaccine and its potential impact on the housing market.
For more background on what is discussed, here is a preview of today’s interview. The transcript below has been lightly edited for length:
Q: Outside of the big news that’s trending now, is there any other piece of news right now that’s piquing your interest?
Sarah Wheeler: I’m interested in how a COVID vaccine might impact the housing market, specifically, interest rates, especially mortgage rates. We know we’re in a low-rate environment, which is what’s fueling our origination boom right now. So, I wonder if we get this under control, is the Fed still going to stick to that really low-interest rate through the end of 2021 into 2022, which is what they’ve said and what people are really banking on? I know they don’t want to do anything. And, they’ve been really careful and cautious, so it’s not like they want to shake anything up. I think it’s going to be interesting because if in fact this vaccine makes a huge difference very quickly, which is still to be seen, I will be interested to see what that looks like for mortgage rates.
The other thing that we’re really keeping an eye on is forbearance, especially with FHA forbearance. While there are a lot of people exiting forbearance with agency loans, that’s not true with FHA, so we are keeping a close eye on that. I think forbearance will be the story and possibly foreclosure, but I think there’s going to be more forbearance in the next six months.
The HousingWire Daily examines the most compelling articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Each afternoon, we provide our listeners with a deeper look into the stories coming across our newsroom that are helping Move Markets Forward. Hosted by the HW team and produced by Alcynna Lloyd and Victoria Wickham.
HousingWire articles covered in this episode:
