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Existing Home Sales Rise 11 Percent From Last Year
Sales of previously owned homes slipped 1.7 percent in September but remain 11.0 percent above year-before levels, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. Total existing-home sales, which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and...
Housing Starts Up 15 Percent In September
Estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development show housing starts and building permits both surged in September. Privately-owned housing starts jumped 15 percent above the revised August estimate of 758,000 to a...
Mortgage Purchase Activity Hits Four Month High
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index rose 1.0 percent last week, reaching its highest level since June. But despite the gains in purchase activity, the Market Composite Index, which measures...
Builder Confidence Up For Sixth Straight Month
The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index measures builder confidence in the market for new, single-family homes on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view the market as good than poor. In October, the index increased to 41....
Americans Optimistic About The Economy, Housing Market
The results of Fannie Mae's September 2012 National Housing Survey show consumers' optimism about the economy and housing market continued to climb as the summer season wound down. Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae, said consumers...
Foreclosure Activity Falls To Five Year Low
In September, foreclosure filings were reported on 180,427 properties, down 7.0 percent from August and 16 percent below last year's level. September's total was the lowest since July 2007 and helped lower third-quarter foreclosure numbers 5.0 percent from the second...
Refinance Activity Remains Near Three Year High
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, refinance application demand slipped 2.0 percent last week but remains near three-year highs. The drop was matched by a 2.0 percent increase in purchase application demand, pushing purchase...
Monthly Scorecard Says Housing Recovery Strengthening
Recent market data shows signs of a strengthening recovery, according to the latest housing scorecard released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The administration's housing scorecard tracks key data and...
Improving Markets Index Climbs To Record Level
The National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Index identifies metropolitan areas that have seen six consecutive months of gains in housing permits, employment, and home prices. In October, the index reached the highest number of metros recorded since...
Economic Confidence Bounces Back In September
Gallup's Economic Confidence Index improved by eight points in September and nearly reached May's record reading, which was the highest since Gallup began daily tracking in 2008. The monthly index is based on interviews with more than 14,000 adults nationwide and...