Mortgages costs fell this week, and according to data from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginne Mae, it could be due to a recent increase in agency mortgage bonds last week. Experts say that bond values are ascending due to the falling long-term Treasury rates, helping the cost of mortgages to decline. Sterne Agee analyst, Henry Coffey said, “the expected gains in agency bond values and related boost in book values should show up in the March period if treasury rates remain low and bond values hold at current levels.” More here

House flipping jumped last year, averaging a 16% increase from 2012, and a significant 114% jump from 2011 according to RealtyTrac’s year-end 2013 Home Flipping Report. Last year 156,862 homes were purchased, flipped and sold within a six month time frame. Data shows that the average house flipping gross profit in 2013 was approximately $58,081, almost a $13,000 gain from 2012. Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac said, “strong home price appreciation in many markets boosted profits for flippers in 2013 despite a shrinking inventory of lower-priced foreclosure homes to purchase. For the year, 21% of all properties flipped were purchased out of foreclosure, but that is down from 27% in 2012 and 32% in 2011.” More here

According to new data released by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association and Riskspan, home equity among seniors has improved over the last few years, and hit a five-year high in the third quarter of last year. Total home equity among seniors jumped 3.4%, averaging $3.46 trillion and increasing 165.7 points on the NRMLA/Riskspan Reverse Mortgage Market Index, which measures home equity among individuals who qualify for reverse mortgages. Home values continue to increase throughout the U.S., with values up in 72% of the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas. More here

Foreclosure sales and short sales made up approximately 16.2% of residential sales in the United States last year, according to RealtyTrac’s 2013 U.S. Residential and Foreclosure Sales Report. That percentage is up 14.5% from 2012, and up 15.2% from what was reported in 2011. Foreclosure activity has been decreasing, falling to a seven-year low last year. Experts say that these sales are due to foreclosures during the recession that are just now getting off of the market. Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Vice President said, “it may surprise some to see distressed sales rising in 2013, given that new foreclosure activity dropped to a seven-year low, Why? Most of the increases in 2013 are recession-era foreclosures still in the system. Banks are repossessing more homes as higher prices are making it easier for them to sell, he says, but the recovery has strengthened most local markets enough to withstand blows from these nagging foreclosures.” More here

According to the 30th annual ARM Survey released by Freddie Mac, ARM initial-period rates have jumped from the previous year but are still considered historically low. Adjustable-rate mortgages have grown more popular as rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have become higher. The Vice President of Freddie Mac, Frank Nothaft said, “homebuyers have preferred fixed-rate mortgages the past few years because of the low interest rates and the certainty of the monthly principal and interest payment.” More here

According to newly released data, U.S. home prices increased from November to December by 0.3% and 8.5% from one year prior. The average November home price was up approximately $18,000 from November 2012, averaging $232,000. The state of Florida led the U.S. in monthly home price increases while Las Vegas home prices jumped almost 24% from the end of 2012. Colorado and Texas also showed annual home price gains. Additionally, national U.S. home prices averaged 13.9%. More here

Previously owned home sales jumped last month for the first time in approximately five months, making 2013 the best year for home sales since 2006. Data suggests that the housing market is beginning to adjust to higher borrowing costs. According to the National Association of Realtors, purchases increased 1%, averaging a 4.87 million annual pace. Employment growth is also on the rise giving more buyers confidence to buy a home. More here

Boston College for Retirement Research found through a recent study that many older Americans are deciding to work longer and put off retirement due to large debt, particularly caused by mortgages. For those Americans who cannot continue to work because of disability or health problems, experts say that reverse mortgages may be a financial lifesaver. Researchers, Barbara Butrica and Nadia Karamcheva said, “Americans’ indebtedness has increased dramatically since the 1980s—a trend likely to have important implications for retirement security, not only does the presence of debt influence older adults’ behavior, but so do the amount and type of debt—particularly outstanding mortgages.” According to experts the three main options senior Americans have to help decrease debt by mortgage are to sell the home, declare bankruptcy or apply for a reverse mortgage. More here

American unemployment benefit claims increased marginally last week, but experts say that the labor market is continuing to improve. According to the Labor Department, initial state claims slightly increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 326,000. The claims report covered the January payroll period excluding farm payroll, and found that claims decreased 12,250 between the months of December and January. Experts say this data suggests job creation and growth will accelerate throughout the remainder of the month. More here

Mortgage applications have increased according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly report while mortgage rates continue to fall. The (MBA) stated that the seasonally adjusted composite index increased 4.7%, and the seasonally adjusted purchase index grew by 4.00% from last week. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to the lowest rate seen since November of last year, averaging 4.58% while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also decreased 0.4%, averaging 3.68%. Experts suggest that the growth in mortgage applications and decrease in rates could be an indicator for a strong spring housing market. More here