Compared to last year, home prices increased in 98 percent of the nation’s counties as of the first quarter of 2017, according to the NAR’s Economists’ Outlook blog.
Counties in nine metro areas, including Seattle and five others in Florida, experienced price gains of 12 percent or better.
Mortgage rates have fallen unexpectedly. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage from Freddie Mac was 4.2 percent in March, and dropped to 4.05 percent in April and 4.01 percent in May.
PB Topical Ref
