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Housing Starts Dip, Building Permits Surge In February
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's new residential construction statistics for February show housing starts down 1.1 percent from January but still nearly 35 percent above the year before. Despite the slight dip in new...
Builder Confidence At Highest Level Since 2007
Builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes is twice as strong as it was six months ago and at its highest level since 2007. The latest National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, which measures builders' expectations and perceptions,...
Improving Markets Index Reaches 99 In March
The National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Index climbed to 99 in March, up from 98 in February. The index, which measures improvement in housing permits, employment, and prices, now includes 33 states with at least one housing market on the list and...
Foreclosures Fall Two Percent In February
RealtyTrac's U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for February 2012 shows foreclosure filings, including scheduled auctions, default notices, and bank repossessions, fell 2.0 percent in February and were down 8.0 percent from the previous year. Despite the fact that...
Purchase Demand Reaches Highest Level In Two Months
According to The Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, demand for loans to purchase homes reached its highest level since January 13 after rising 4.4 percent last week. It is the third consecutive week of improvements and puts purchase...
Homebuilders See Signs Of A Strong Spring Selling Season
Barclays Capital recently upgraded their outlook on homebuilder stocks based on increased optimism in the housing market. Improvements in builder and consumer confidence, combined with economic growth and more favorable inventory levels, have homebuilders expecting a...
Continued Jobs Gains Offer More Hope For Housing
The economy added 227,000 jobs in February and surpassed economists' expectations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment improved in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing,...
Home Prices Rise Minus Distressed Sales
Sales of distressed properties, including short sales and REO transactions, put downward pressure on home prices. For this reason, CoreLogic's Home Price Index measures values including and excluding distressed sales. In January, the index showed a month-over-month...
Americans Have Growing Confidence In Economy, Housing
Each month, Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey polls Americans to assess their attitudes toward homeownership, renting, mortgage rates, the economy, their personal finances, and overall consumer confidence. February's survey found respondents' attitudes stabilizing...
Purchase Demand Increases Again As Rates Dip
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2.1 percent from the week before as average mortgage rates dipped. Despite the continued improvement in demand for loan applications to...