VOA常速英语:美国利率上调打击新的购房者

Across the country, most home prices have climbed back to pre-recession highs.For the average homeowner, that means their home is now worth about the same as it was in 2006 before the housing market collapsed in 2008.But just barely.
放眼全国，大部分房价都已经攀回了经济衰退之前的高价。而对于普通房主来说，这意味着他们的房子如今市值大概与2006年时不相上下，当时的房地产市场还没有遭遇2008年的那场崩溃。但也仅限于此而已。

“The housing market is clearly getting healthier, so we need to allow this momentum to continue to build. ”
“很明显，房地产市场如今呈健康发展态势，因此我们有必要继续创造动力。”

The National Association of Realtors’ chief economist, Lawrence Yun says it’s a critical time for the housing market.
全美地产经纪商协会首席经济师劳伦斯·尹称，现在正是房地产市场的关键时期。

In the last six years, home prices have risen faster than incomes.And in the last month interest rates on 30-year mortgages have also risen dramatically.
过去6年，房价比工资涨得都要快。而上个月，30年期抵押贷款的利率也急剧上升。

“Mortgage rates had been at 3.5 percent for most of 2016.It has already increased above 4 percent, partly in anticipation of the Federal Reserve rate changes.”
“2016年大部分时间，按揭利率都保持在3.5%。而现在已经上调到了4%还要多，这在一定程度上也预示了美联储利率的变化。”

With federal officials signaling three more rate hikes next year, it’s likely to go higher.Just a quarter percent increase could add as much as $50 per month on a $300,000 mortgage,says personal finance website Finder.com.That could turn off potential homebuyers, says money expert, Michelle Hutchison on Skype.
鉴于联邦官员表示，明年将会出现三次利率上调的情况，因此按揭利率还是有可能继续上涨。而拿一份30万美元的房贷来说，利率仅提高0.25%，购房者每个月就得多还50美元，个人理财网站Finder.com如是分析。上述情况可能会吓退很多潜在买家，理财专家米歇尔·哈奇森在通过Skype接受采访时这样说道。

“Our survey found that 60 percent of those people who are intending to buy in the next five years will hold off if there is a rate rise this month.And you know, that equals over 81 million people.”
“我们通过调查发现，如果本月利率上调，那么60%打算未来五年内买房的人，可能都会想要暂缓置业计划。而60%是个什么概念，这相当于是8100万人啊。”

While there is a direct correlation between rising rates and falling demand,Lawrence Yun says that the era of ultra-low interest rates is over.But, he says the improving economy and more flexible lending should help balance the equation.
尽管利率上涨与需求下降有着直接关系，但劳伦斯·尹表示，超低利率的时代已经过去了。不过他又补充说，不断改善的经济和更加灵活的贷款方式应该在当中起到平衡的作用。

“The bottom line impact, I believe, is that the rates are increasing but not alarmingly.But combined that with job creation and possibly some opening up in the credit box,will result in home sales essentially not changing in 2017.”
“在我看来，最底线的影响就是，利率虽然不断上涨，但还没有到令人担忧的地步。但综合考虑利率以及创造就业机会和借贷平台的开放，最终结果就是2017年的房屋销售情况基本不会有变化。”

Yun says the bigger problem may be low inventories, especially for lower-price starter homes.
尹表示，更大的问题可能在于待售的房子数量不足，尤其是低价的过渡房，数量更是少之又少。

Yun says the lack of affordable homes is adding to the reluctance among millennials and first-time buyers,many of whom are more likely to rent right now than buy into the American dream.
尹还称，由于缺少经济适用房，千禧一代和第一次置业的买家对于购房变得更加迟疑，他们当中的许多人现在更愿意去租房，而不是着急去实现美国梦。

Mil Arcega, VOA news, Washington.
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