Morning Report: More on housing affordability 7/28/17

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Brent Nyitray

Vital Statistics:

Last Change
S&P Futures 2465.3 -7.0
Eurostoxx Index 378.7 -3.6
Oil (WTI) 49.1 0.0
US dollar index 86.2 -0.3
10 Year Govt Bond Yield 2.30%
Current Coupon Fannie Mae TBA 102.93
Current Coupon Ginnie Mae TBA 103.81
30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage 3.95

Stocks are lower this morning on overseas weakness. Bonds and MBS are flat.

The advance estimate for second quarter GDP came in at 2.6%, in line with expectations. This is an increase from the first quarter estimate of 1.2%. Personal consumption increased 2.8%, while the price index increased 1% while the savings rate inched down. This should give the Fed the room to maintain interest rates at this level if they choose to do so.

The employment cost index rose 0.5% in the second quarter and is up 2.2% YOY. Wages and salaries increased 0.5% and benefit costs increased 0.6%.

Consumer sentiment edged up in July, according to the University of Michigan survey.

I had some questions yesterday regarding LIBOR and what happens to ARMs once it is gone in 2021? The short answer is that nobody knows for sure. The US will probably migrate to some other repo rate to set short term rates. Perhaps once LIBOR goes away, there will be a LIBOR reference rate which is pegged to whatever short term rate is being used and will move at a constant spread to that rate.

I was discussing housing affordability a couple days ago and talked about mortgage payments as a function of income over time. I showed that the post bubble days hit 40 year lows (at least) and that we are still well below historical levels. The issue with that analysis is that it ignores the tax effects of the mortgage interest deduction, which really mattered in the late 70s / early 80s when tax rates and interest rates were much higher. Up until the mid 80s, the marginal tax rate for the median income was between 22% and 24%. It has been 15% ever since. Also, when interest rates were much higher, the vast majority of your payments for the first few years went to interest, not principal – in fact when mortgage rates were 17%, 99% of your first year’s payment went to interest. Today, that number is much lower, and even ticked below 70% in 2012. Check out the chart below:

mortgage interest

That chart also speaks to how much quicker one can build equity simply by paying their mortgage on time. Back in the 70s / 80s, you were probably lucky to have enough home price appreciation and principal paid to cover your closing costs if you moved after a few years. Today, you have both strong home price appreciation and a higher principal payment percentage. This helps emphasize how real estate is a great way to build wealth.

Here is the chart comparing the gross percentage of income that a mortgage payment consumed over time and also the tax effected percentage: As you can see, it is pretty linear, and we are still in a great position now compared to 30 years ago.

mortgage payment as a percent of income

Filed under: Economy, Morning Report |

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23 Responses

  1. Michigoose, on July 28, 2017 at 10:23 am said:

    Frist. . .

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Let the mutherfuker burn!, on July 28, 2017 at 11:01 am said:

    How empty does your life have to be for this to be true?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. markinaustin, on July 28, 2017 at 11:42 am said:

    What happens when the all – time dumbass POTUS has his lackey Interior Secretary threaten AK’s senators to pull funding from AK b/c one of them is voting against the R health care bill? Well, considering that Murkowski chairs the committee with oversight over Interior, this is what happens:

    I’m going to rip up your nominations markup and piss on your dead agenda. You f-ed with the wrong Senator, Zinke.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Let the mutherfuker burn!, on July 28, 2017 at 11:49 am said:

      Murkowski is McConnell’s Senator. She owes her seat to him. It shouldn’t (and wouldn’t) matter if Trump gave a televised Oval Office address and called her a coke whore, she betrayed McConnell, to blame Trump is irrational.

      Like

      Reply
      • Michigoose, on July 28, 2017 at 12:37 pm said:

        How do you figure she betrayed McConnell?

        Like

        Reply
        • Let the mutherfuker burn!, on July 28, 2017 at 12:55 pm said:

          She owes her seat to him. She lost her primary in 2010 to Joe Miller, ran with full backing of NRSC and McConnell’s support. He allowed her to keep her committee ranking-member status and committed publicly to having her take over Chair of the Energy committee if R’s take Senate. Had he not backed her over the actual Republican primary winner she would have lost. She gave him a huge FUCK YOU for his troubles.

          Serves him right frankly.

          Liked by 1 person

    • Kevin S. Willis, on July 30, 2017 at 4:13 pm said:

      It’s like they don’t know how politics works in Washington.

      Like

      Reply
  4. Brent Nyitray, on July 28, 2017 at 12:18 pm said:

    I guess entitlements are indeed like herpes..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. jnc4p, on July 28, 2017 at 3:41 pm said:

    I continue to like Taibbi’s contrarian take on Russiagate:

    “What Does Russiagate Look Like to Russians?

    Russia isn’t as strong as we think, but they do have nukes – which is why beating the war drum is a mistake

    By Matt Taibbi
    July 21, 2017”

    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-what-does-russiagate-look-like-to-russians-w493462

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. jnc4p, on July 28, 2017 at 3:52 pm said:

    Also worth a read:

    “Newly Released Documents Show Government Misled Public on Fannie/Freddie Takeover

    While Russiagate rages, the bitter fight over the future of the real estate market continues
    By Matt Taibbi
    …
    By 2015, the GSEs had paid $228 billion to the government, or $41 billion more than the $187 billion bailout. This prompted a letter from Sen. Chuck Grassley asking why the companies had not been released from debt.

    The Treasury Department answered, in essence, that the bailout had not been a loan, but an “ongoing financial commitment.”

    This was not a debt that could be paid back. Like a restaurant owner who accepts protection from the mob, the GSEs were and are in an unseverable relationship.”

    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-government-misled-public-on-fanniefreddie-takeover-w494007

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Let the mutherfuker burn!, on July 28, 2017 at 7:34 pm said:

    Like

    Reply
    • markinaustin, on July 28, 2017 at 9:23 pm said:

      Of course, Rand Paul blocking the NDAA so it would not reach the floor while McCain was in town is not at all like McCain voting as one of 51 Senators. Not in any way.

      The only question about Paul’s vote is whether it was conscientious or a fit of pique.

      FWIW, IDK.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Let the mutherfuker burn!, on July 29, 2017 at 12:46 pm said:

    This overview of Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s IT staffer recently arrested at Dulles is wild. I’d love to hear from J and NoVa about any rumors they’re hearing on Capital Hill.

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article/449983/debbie-wasserman-schultz-pakistani-computer-guys-bank-fraud

    Liked by 1 person

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