According to Freddie Mac’s mortgage survey, the average fixed-rate mortgage is continuing to see a slight increase. Pending home sales jumped 0.2% last month, and consumer confidence also experienced additional growth as 2013 came to a close. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged approximately 4.53%, up from 4.48% last week, and the average 15-year-fixed rate mortgage increased from 3.52% to 3.55%. More here

This last year was decidedly positive overall for the housing market, and many experts expect the trend to continue into 2014. Prices, sales, and mortgage rates are all expected to march into the new year on a strong note while slowly increasing throughout the coming year. Housing construction is also expected to improve in 2014. Investment manager Goldman Sachs Asset Management said ”Construction won’t return to normal this year, but it will strengthen enough to be the main driver of the housing recovery as home price gains shrink.” More here 

Four cities and 13 states will experience an increase in minimum wage starting on January 1, 2014. Most minimum wage increases amount to approximately 15 cents per hour, while other locations such as New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey will see a larger increase. Experts say the jump in minimum wage in certain locations is due to a rise in annual cost of living. More here

New home sales in the U.S. have taken a slight fall, decreasing 2.1% last month and falling from a five-month high. According to the Commerce Department, sales volume decreased to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 464,000. Although percentages are down from the previous month, November’s rates still exceeded many expectations and remain near a five-year high. More here

A new study has found that some locations may be more desirable than others for baby boomers to live. The study uncovered many factors that play a role in where seniors want to live, such as health care access and climate. Raleigh, NC, Austin, TX, and San Antonio all topped the list for more desirable, and affordable locations for baby boomers to live. The authors of the study said, “to determine America’s Baby Boomer Boom Towns, we analyzed not just Boomer population growth for the country’s 100 most populated metro areas, but also per-capita growth in gross domestic product (GDP), per-capita personal income growth, housing affordability and number of health care workers per capita.” More here

New data that has been released suggests the housing market will continue to strengthen in 2014. While the predictions for housing market growth are extremely positive, the economy is not expected to expand substantially. Interest rates are expected to remain low, and market purchases will rise in 2014. FBR & Co. said, “financials, particularly banks and thrifts, outperformed the broader indices in 2013, and, generally speaking, we expect in-line performance at best over the coming year as stock prices have drastically outperformed fundamentals for most spread-based lending businesses.” More here

According to Lender Processing Services, the U.S. loan delinquency rate rose slightly in November. Overall the delinquency rate this year has dropped compared to the last few years, down approximately 10% year-to-date. Foreclosure inventory rates fell 2.5% last month, and averaged 29% for the year while the total number of foreclosures averaged 1.256 million. The loan delinquency rate year-over-year averaged 9.41%. More here

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that average mortgage rates have increased from the previous week due to housing permits and starts. The recently released data states that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased .05% from last week, averaging 4.47%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped 0.6%, averaging 3.51% last week. The housing market continues gradually gaining strength. More here

According to the National Association of Realtors, home sales fell in November with previously owned home sales dropping to 4.3%, averaging an annual rate of 4.90 million units. Additionally, filings for unemployment and unemployment benefits increased against expectations. The Labor Department stated that state unemployment benefits jumped 10,000 and averaged a seasonally adjusted rate of 379,000. More here

According to new data released by the Commerce Department, last month’s housing starts increased 22.7% from the previous month’s revised estimate, and almost 30% from November 2012. Single-family housing starts averaged a rate of 727,000 last month, a 20.8% increase from October while privately-owned homes hit 1.091 million. Additionally, the construction start rates for buildings containing more than 4 units averaged 354,000. More here