Every month, Fannie Mae surveys Americans to better understand how they view the housing market, their personal finances, and the overall economy. Their Home Purchase Sentiment Index is a measure of how people around the country feel about buying or selling a home. And, according to the most recent results, they currently feel like it’s time to buy. In fact, there was a 10 percent increase in the number of respondents who said they felt like it was the right time compared to February’s survey. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says sentiment has been volatile lately. “The HPSI’s recent run of volatility continued in March, as it recovered last month’s loss and remained within the five-point range of the past twelve months,” Duncan said. “The primary driver of this month’s increase was the sizable rise in the net share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home, which returned the indicator to its year-ago level.” Boosted optimism about buying a house may be due to the spring buying season or perhaps a feeling among potential buyers that affordability conditions may worsen if they wait. More here.

Mortgage rates have been increasing lately and there is an expectation that they will move higher this year. But while home prices get a lot of attention, rising mortgage rates are a little more difficult for buyers to calculate in terms of what it will cost them. Here’s some help. According to one recent model, a less than one percent increase in mortgage rates over the next year would result in a $100 increase to the typical monthly mortgage payment. But since the costs of homeownership are influenced by many different factors, this projection has to make certain assumptions about things like the rate at which home prices will increase, for example. In other words, any increase to mortgage rates will cost home buyers but just how much is difficult to calculate precisely. So what should home buyers expect? Well, since a stronger economy and improved job market make it more likely that the Fed will raise interest rates further this year, buyers should expect that mortgage rates will remain low by historical standards but continue to edge higher, taking monthly mortgage payments higher along with them. More here.

When considering the costs of homeownership, it’s sometimes easy to forget about property tax. Home buyers focus a lot of attention on their prospective mortgage payment and the potential cost of any remodels and renovations but often forget to think about how much taxes will run them each year. This is a mistake. Take, for example, new research from ATTOM Data Solutions. Their recent tax analysis found that the average property tax on a single family home last year was $3,399, a 3 percent increase from 2016. That’s nearly $300 a month. But property taxes can differ from one place to the next. As evidence, states like Hawaii, Alabama, Colorado, Tennessee, and West Virginia were found to have lower than average effective property tax rates. They can also vary from city to city. That’s why it’s a good idea to look into how much homeowners pay in property taxes in the areas where you’d most like to buy a home. It may not sway your decision on where you buy, but it will give you a more accurate assessment of how much it’ll cost to buy a house in a particular city. More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were virtually unchanged last week, remaining at two-month lows. But despite favorable rates, demand for mortgage applications fell. Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, told CNBC buyers may have been leery due to recent fluctuations in the stock market. “Potential home buyers may be a little rattled by the swings in the stock market the past few weeks, but the job market continues to strengthen, which should power demand through the spring season,” Fratantoni said. In other words, the temporary ups-and-downs of the stock market may have shaken up last week’s results but there is still a high level of buyer demand this spring. In fact, despite falling two percent from the week before, requests for loans to buy homes were still five percent higher than at the same time last year. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

It’s said that there are two sides to every story. Well, there are also two sides to the housing market. For example, since the end of the recession in 2009, home prices have risen 37 percent, according to Freddie Mac’s most recent monthly outlook. But while those price gains mean there aren’t as many bargains on the market as there were eight years ago, it also means current homeowners have enjoyed a record rebound in home equity. Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac’s deputy chief economist, says the housing market is on the upswing. “Overall, U.S. housing markets have been on the upswing,” Kiefer said. “While housing market trends have been generally favorable, not everyone has shared equally in the gains. Existing homeowners have largely seen their properties increase in value, helping to build equity. In many parts of the country, home values have more than recovered from the Great Recession, reaching new peaks, and the share of underwater homeowners has dropped significantly.” More here.

Increasingly, people rely on technology to simplify tasks that were once difficult or time consuming. These days, everything from grocery shopping to running a business can be done with an assist from a smartphone app. So it’s no surprise that home shoppers would also go to the internet to gather information on how, what, and where to buy a house. And it’s for that reason that photography has become an important tool for homeowners who are looking to sell a house. For example, a recent National Association of Realtors’ study found 89 percent of buyers who searched listings on the internet said photos were the most useful feature. That makes sense. After all, the photos that accompany online listings can offer home shoppers an idea of what the home looks like inside and out. And while it’s always best to see the house in person – as photography can sometimes give an inaccurate impression of what shape a house is in – good photos are clearly a must if you’re selling a home today. More here.

Most regions offer house hunters a variety of architectural styles to choose from. Whether you prefer bungalows to ranches or modern over contemporary, you can likely find something that fits your preference. But, according to one recent survey, what you’re looking for might depend on your age. That’s because the results show millennial home buyers are looking for a different kind of home than older buyers. For example, younger buyers expressed a preference for colonial and contemporary homes, when they had a preference at all. On the other hand, buyers over the age of 55 were much more interested in finding a ranch – which is an architectural style favored by only 6 percent of millennials. Of course, some of this has to do with practicalities – such as retirees in search of a one-story home because it eliminates any concern about future mobility and navigating stairs – but it’s also a question of personal taste and aesthetics. Ultimately, though, whatever type of house Americans say they prefer, they generally all say they want that house to have ample storage, a garage, and multiple bedrooms. More here.