With mortgage rates at their lowest since September and still showing some signs of decline, more Americans are looking to refinance.
A CNBC report found that applications to refinance mortgages had jumped 18 percent from week to week. Lowering interest rates have also cleared a path for some Americans who were holding out from applying amid the higher rates.
Week-over-week, home buying applications jumped 3 percent but were still down 37 percent from the same time last year.
"Purchase activity that was put on hold last year due to the quick run-up in rates is gradually coming back as rates ease and housing demand remains strong, driven by supportive demographics and the ongoing strength in the job market," Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC.
Loans sizes are also on the rise, increasing to $428,500, which is the largest hike since May.
While refi and home buying applications are rising, a large majority of Americans are still waiting until the economy gets stronger. In a survey from FlyHomes, 78 percent of respondents say they have either slowed or stopped their home search altogether.
"The survey findings reinforce just how damaging the rise in interest rates has been on the buyer psyche and how much education and product innovation the mortgage industry needs to do," Dan Richards, EVP of Flyhomes Mortgage, said in a statement. "Learning that two-thirds of reluctant buyers would purchase now with a product that allowed them to refinance later without paying closing costs signals a major gap in the marketplace."
The survey also found that nearly half of respondents lacked knowledge about how the refinancing process actually works.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
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About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.
