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Housing Outlook Calls For More Market Momentum
According to the outlook of a group of economists recently gathered by the National Association of Home Builders, the housing market is recovering steadily and should continue to gain momentum though next year and beyond. David Crowe, NAHB's chief economist, said...
Economic Confidence Ends October On An Upswing
Gallup's Economic Confidence Index reached its highest level since 2008 during the last week of October. And though confidence ranked higher many times prior to 2008, when Gallup tracked Americans confidence on a periodic rather than daily basis, it is the most...
Purchase Loan Demand Edges Up From Last Week
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, total mortgage loan application volume fell last week though purchase demand edged up slightly. The Market Composite Index, which measures both refinance and purchase loan volume, was down 4.8...
Foreclosure Rates Fall In Nation’s Largest Metro Areas
RealtyTrac's Q3 2012 Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report tracks foreclosure activity in cities with populations of 200,000 or more. In the third quarter of this year, foreclosure activity fell from a year ago in 131 of the 212 metropolitan areas included in the...
Pick Up In Housing Activity Accelerates Economic Recovery
Freddie Mac's recently released Economic and Housing Market Outlook for October shows housing contributed 0.3 percentage points to GDP growth in the first half of 2012 after being a net drag from 2006 through 2010. The housing sector is also expected to contribute to...
Pending Home Sales Up In September
The National Association of Realtor's Pending Home Sales Index measures contract signings and is an indicator of future existing-home sales. In September, the index was up 0.3 percent over August and 14.5 percent above last year's level. It was the 17th consecutive...
New Homes Sales Reach Fastest Pace Since April 2010
In September, new home sales reached their highest level since April 2010, when they were boosted by the homebuyer tax credit. According to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of new single-family...
Mortgage Demand Slips Following Holiday Adjustment
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, mortgage application demand slowed last week, though the results may reflect the previous week's upward adjustment for the Columbus Day holiday. The Market Composite Index, which measures...
Report Forecasts Continued Gains For Housing Market
A recent report from Fitch Ratings forecasts continued gains for the housing market through the end of the year. According to the report, modest growth in the economy, combined with fewer distressed sales and higher rental costs, will lead to continued improvement in...
Home Price Trends Point To Further Increases
If the current year-to-date price trend continues, 2012 will be the first year that home prices have increased since 2006. Trulia's Price Monitor, which is among the earliest leading indicators of price trends, shows September asking prices were up 2.5 percent...