Eye On Housing
Single-Family and Multifamily Construction Spending Continue to Increase
NAHB analysis of Census construction spending data found that on a 3-month moving average basis, from January 2014, single-family construction spending increased 11.4% and multifamily construction spending increased 28.9%. The seasonally adjusted annual spending for single-family construction was $204.9 billion and $48.9 billion for multifamily construction. Single-family and multifamily construction spending both experienced monthly increases over December estimates. Single-family spending… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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Further Signs of Normalization in House Price Growth
The recent release by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows that its measure of house prices, House Price Index – Purchase Only, rose by 5.4% on a 12-month seasonally adjusted basis in December 2014. This marks the 35th consecutive month of year-over-year growth. Over this nearly three-year period, house prices have risen by 20.0% and have now surpassed their November 2005 level…. Read More ›
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GDP Growth in the Fourth Quarter – Second Estimate
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its second estimate of real GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2014. Growth in economic output was revised downward to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.2% from an “advance” estimate of 2.6%. The second estimate is based on more complete information than was available for the initial estimate. The slower pace… Read More ›
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Retreat
Both the University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment and the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined in February after soaring to cyclical highs in January. The Index of Consumer Sentiment Index decreased to 95.4 in February from 98.1 in January, but was up from 81.6 during February 2014. The Consumer Confidence Index decreased to 96.4 in February from 103.8… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Resume Upward Trend
The Pending Home Sales increased 1.7% in January, and was up 8.4% from the same period a year ago. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased to 104.2 in January, up from an upwardly revised 102.5 in December. The PHSI increased year-over-year for the fifth… Read More ›
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Average New Home Loan Rate Dips Below 4 Percent
Earlier today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported a 10 basis point decline in mortgage interest rates for the month of January. Looking into the data a little further shows that the story was essentially the same for the subset of mortgages used to purchase newly built homes, On conventional mortgages for new homes, FHFA tables show the average… Read More ›
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Builder Sentiment about Multifamily Remains Positive
Builder and developer sentiment about the multifamily market held steady in the fourth quarter, according to results from NAHB’s Multifamily Production Index (MPI) released earlier today. The overall MPI—a composite measure of sentiment about production of low-rent apartments, market-rate rental apartments and condominiums—was unchanged at 54 in the fourth quarter. The MPI and each of its components is an index… Read More ›
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Consumers Prices Fall 0.7% in January
The consumer price index fell for the third straight month as the price of gasoline continued its sharp decline. The prices on expenditures made by urban consumers decreased 0.1% over the past twelve months before seasonal adjustments. According to the latest release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the consumer price index decreased 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month… Read More ›
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Share of Delinquent Mortgages Continues to Fall
According to the most recent release of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey, the share of mortgages that are considered delinquent continued to fall. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the share of mortgages past due declined to 5.68% in the fourth quarter of 2014, 17 basis points from the third quarter of 2014 and 71 basis less than its… Read More ›
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Eye on the Economy: A Slow Start for 2015
Housing and residential construction have gotten off to a slow start at the beginning of the year. January data have been disappointing, although current indicators continue to suggest home building will grow in the year ahead. In particular, solid job growth and historically low mortgage rates should help unleash growing pent-up demand and keep the housing market moving forward. Home… Read More ›