Home Mortgage Interest Rates Reach 6 Percent, Highest Level Since 2008 Housing Crash
LAS VEGAS, NV – As the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in an attempt to curb the 40-year high inflation that has been holding Americans in its crushing financial grip, home mortgage interest rates have been correspondingly raising along with them, hitting 6 percent last Thursday for the first time since the housing market crash of 2008.
The loss of the cheap money that was fueling the nation’s home-buying frenzy during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an overall slowdown of the market, both in Las Vegas and nationwide, as prospective buyers have been putting the brakes on their house hunting and sellers – who lately have been lowering their asking prices after seeing them skyrocket for the past year – have seen offers dwindle.
Last Thursday, the average rate on a 30-year home loan reached 6.02 percent – the highest level since November 2008, which was 14 years ago – up from 5.89 percent last week and 2.86 percent at this point in time one year ago.
For the past year, home prices and demand in Southern Nevada have surged, breaking records on a monthly basis; however, as inflation has gradually increased along with mortgage rates, the market in Las Vegas has shown some distinct signs of slowing down. Nonetheless, numbers still remain at higher levels than last year, and higher than average for the U.S. overall.
At the end of August 2022, there were almost 8,000 pre-owned houses on the market without offers, representing a 146 percent increase over August 2021; the median sales price of these homes was $450,000 in August, down 3.2 percent, or $15,000, from July, but still 11 percent higher than they were year-over-year. Nonetheless, August was the third month in a row that home prices in Southern Nevada have decreased, following a hot streak where they failed to drop for nearly two years.
Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.
About the Author
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® and reports for independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher helps keep a keen-eye on what's happening in the Las Vegas Nevada community on behalf of Shelter Realty Inc.