Mortgage Comparison Tool: A Glimpse at Life Without the 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage
Hoping to reduce taxpayers’ risk, policymakers are considering changing the mortgage guarantee, which may lead to a shift toward adjustable-rate products, higher fixed interest rates and/or shorter-duration loans. Here's a comparison tool that shows how sensitive house payments are to changes in interest rates and loan duration.
Experts: Changes to GSE Affordable Housing Goals Likely to Reduce Lending to Underserved Groups
Experts predict replacing Fannie and Freddie’s Affordable Housing Goals will result in decreased lending to underserved borrowers. They are split on whether potential changes will improve taxpayer protection or provide better targeting for borrowers in need.
Fannie and Freddie’s Affordable Housing Hang-Up
Rural markets could be most vulnerable to changes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s affordable housing goals, and higher home values correspond with significantly fewer low-income mortgages purchased by the mortgage giants.
Singles Can Afford Fewer Than Half of U.S. Homes — and It’s Worse for Women
It takes a single person almost 11 years to save a down payment for a typical U.S. home – more than twice the time it takes a couple. The wage gap means single men can save down payments faster -- and afford a greater share of U.S. homes than single women.
What We Learned About Housing Over the Past Year
It's been a dynamic year for housing, with affordability continuing to squeeze renters in particular -- and policy changes in Washington, D.C., raising questions about implications for homeowners. Zillow Research explored those and other issues -- from climate change to foreign buyers to home-buying tips. Here's a roundup.
Rising Rents Could Pinch Voucher Holders With Already Shrinking Assistance
In most of the 50 largest metros, both rents and housing assistance will rise together in 2018. But in eight metros, the amount of rental assistance will shrink instead, despite anticipated growth in rents.
Government Shutdown Would Delay Processing of Thousands of Mortgages Per Day
Approximately 3,500 federally backed mortgage loans per business day could be delayed because of the federal government shutdown.
TPS-Protected Salvadoran Homeowners Paid Approx. $100M in Property Taxes Last Year
Salvadoran homeowners previously granted Temporary Protective Status (TPS) as immigrants likely paid at least roughly $100 million in property taxes nationwide last year, with more than half the total coming from taxes paid in California and Texas.
Tax Reform and Housing: All Your Questions Answered
New tax reform legislation makes major changes to longstanding federal tax incentives for homeowners -- and brings lots of questions. Here are some answers.
Americans Split on Fairness of Local Property Tax Rates
Currently, Americans overall are almost evenly split on the fairness of the property tax rate in their community. Looking ahead, it’s unclear how these attitudes may shift as federal tax changes set to take effect in 2018 potentially lead more to fully feel the pinch of local property tax bills.
