Blog
Existing Home Sales Continue Upward Climb
The latest monthly data from the National Association of Realtors shows existing-home sales up 5.0 percent in December, the third consecutive month of gains. Sales of previously owned homes rose 3.6 percent over the previous year and, for all of 2011, sales were up...
Single-Family Housing Starts, Permits Rise In December
According to new residential construction estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, single-family housing starts rose 4.4 percent in December. Building permits for single-family homes were also up for the month, rising...
Builder Confidence At Highest Level Since June 2007
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index measures builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes. In January, the index rose for the fourth consecutive month and reached its highest level since June 2007. Bob Nielsen,...
Mortgage Demand Surges 23.1 Percent
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, the Market Composite Index, which measures total mortgage loan application volume, surged 23.1 percent last week from the week before. Refinance activity was up 26.4 percent and reached its...
Economists Expect Modest Growth, Pickup In Home Sales For 2012
Fannie Mae's Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group's recently released economic outlook for 2012 calls for growth to slow during the first of half of the year and trend higher through the second-half of the year. The group's economists forecast growth of 2.3...
Vast Majority Of Americans Support Homeownership
A poll of likely voters conducted by the National Association of Home Builders and polling firms Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners found an overwhelming number of Americans value homeownership and support policies that help qualified buyers obtain...
Year End Report Finds Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011
RealtyTrac's Year-End 2011 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report shows a total of 2,698,967 foreclosure filings in 2011, down 34 percent from 2010 and 33 percent below 2009's totals. Foreclosure filings, which include default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank...
Purchase Activity, Mortgage Demand Rises
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index was up 8.1 percent last week from the previous week. The Refinance Index also rose, climbing 3.3 percent from a week earlier. Total mortgage loan...
Number Of Improving Markets Nearly Doubles In January
The National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index identifies metro areas that have improved based on housing permits, employment data, and house prices for at least six straight months. In January, the list of improving markets jumped to...
Americans’ View Of Economy, Housing Takes Positive Turn
For the first time in nearly a year, more Americans say they expect their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months than say it'll stay the same. Fannie Mae's Monthly National Housing Survey shows an increasingly positive attitude toward the housing...