While more U.S. customers are falling behind on their loan
payments, BofA said its lending activities remain steady.
"We are not seeing any tightening from a credit perspective,
as of now," said Vernon.
Consumers still aspire to buy homes even though U.S.
consumer confidence has weakened to a nine-month low. The share
of Americans planning to buy major household appliances over the
next six months has fallen to the lowest level since 2011.
By contrast, new home sales surged 9.6% to a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 683,000 units in March, the highest
level since March 2022.
Almost half of the prospective buyers surveyed by BofA said
they were looking to buy a house because they are tired of
renting and rent increases. Other reasons include financial
security and the desire to start building equity.
(Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Lananh Nguyen
and Sharon Singleton)
By Nupur Anand
NEW YORK, May 9 (Reuters) - U.S. home buyers are still
committed to their plans to buy a property despite rising
interest rates, high inflation and slowing growth, according to
a study by Bank of America published on Tuesday.
Of the 1,000 respondents surveyed, 54% said they will speed
up their home purchase plans, or stick to their original timing,
even as prices rise and inventory stays low. Buying a home is an
even bigger priority for people under 40 than other age groups,
the study showed.
"Gen Z and millennials are showing extreme resilience, even
though the market is more competitive," Matt Vernon, head of
retail lending at Bank of America, told Reuters. "The dream of
home ownership is alive and well despite the challenges."
Buyers are still determined even though conditions are
advantageous to sellers, he said.
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