2018 could be a mixed bag -- mortgage rates are likely to rise, reducing affordability, while more houses may be listed for sale by the end of the year, easing inventory and availability concerns.
MarketWatch compiled the top 10 trends to look for in the new year, including some good news for first-time homebuyers -- home-price appreciation is expected to slow down in 2018. The median forecast is for a 4.1 percent increase in existing home prices in 2018, after two years of 6 percent increases. Based on building permit applications, economists expect the construction of single-family houses to rise sharply in 2018.
Mortgage lenders will continue to pour money into automating the loan-application process. The best-known example is Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. Some lenders, such as loanDepot, cook up their own automation in-house, while software providers such as Blend and Roostify help large and small banks to automate applications.
