Category: News
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New home sales spring forward as selling season begins
Sales of U.S new houses, those under construction, and property whose construction is yet to begin have unexpectedly risen in March 2019, exceeding the estimates that had been made from survey data. The statistics obtained from sample surveys show that the number of new houses sold rose to 692,000, while the available homes for sale…
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U.S. existing home sales booked a 4.9% decline in March 2019
After a robust February, March home sales declined some 4.9%, though analysts aren’t concerned about the dip, citing rising inventories as the market’s way of keeping home prices in check. That’s the conclusion offered by the National Association of Realtors in their assessment of the current state of the market. Chief economist for the NAR,…
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Positive yet cautious optimism on the U.S. housing market
Introduction The U.S. Housing Market in Q1 2019 continued a year-long trend of positive shifts that saw an increase in both new and existing home sales, relatively low foreclosure rates, and falling mortgage rates, suggesting that the market is poised for a strong year. With the housing market boasting some of the best overall numbers…
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2019 Housing market outlook pegged to U.S. economy
The housing market in the U.S. is monitored not only by prospective buyers and sellers of property but also by the general investing public to gauge a measure of the current state of the U.S. economy. In essence, housing market movements have historically provided valuable insights as to the future outlook of the American economy,…
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2019 Sends mixed message to the U.S. housing market
As we start to receive the data for the first fiscal quarter of 2019, there have been conflicting indications of the current strength of the housing market in the U.S. At a macro level, the American economy is in good shape, and the strength of the economy tends to be a solid leading indicator for…
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Fed minutes reveal officials to wait now – raise later
During the March 20 meeting held by members of the Federal Open Market Committee, there was an undisputed public call for patience; however, according to a more comprehensive report published Wednesday, opposing opinions were observed. Based on the minutes, some members suggested that their opinions concerning the proper target range for the federal money rate…
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Builder sentiment moves up one notch to 6-month high
According to the National Association of Home Builders/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builder confidence for newly constructed single-family homes rose tremendously in April to 63. Over the past three months, sentiment levels have been in the low 60s. Builders have reported the essential need for cheap and affordable new single-family homes irrespective of the…
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FHFA Director moves forward on housing finance reform
Calabria: We must grab this opportunity for reform. Mark Calabria has officially taken office, having been confirmed as the new Federal Housing Finance Agency director by the Senate. The agency oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and most US housing finance systems. Calabria replaces Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency, who was instructed to serve in…
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Top 7 Housing Market Predictions for 2019
According to industry leaders and professional associations, the housing market is expected to slow down in 2019, but home ownership is likely to rise. On top of that, it is anticipated that mortgage rates will continue to remain historically low. New housing will face the continuing pressures of labor shortages in the construction industry and…