In February, job gains continued despite elevated interest rates. The unemployment rate increased while the labor force participation rate held steady. February’s jobs report shows that the labor market remains resilient but shows signs of slowing. Additionally, wage growth slowed slightly in February. On a year-over-year basis (YOY), wages grew 4.3% in February, following a…
The volume of total outstanding acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans posted a decline during the fourth quarter of 2023 as interest rates increased and financial conditions tightened. However, AD&C loan conditions will improve in 2024 as the Fed begins easing monetary policy. The volume of 1-4 unit residential construction loans made by FDIC-insured institutions…
Per the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) survey through the week ending March 1st, total mortgage activity increased 9.7% from the previous week, and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) rate fell two basis points to 7.02%. The 30-year FRM has risen 22 basis points over the past month as rates remain right around seven percent….
Due to tightened monetary policy, the count of total job openings for the entire economy has trended lower in recent months. This is consistent with a cooling economy that is a positive sign for future inflation readings. The number of open jobs for the aggregate economy was relatively unchanged in January. In January, the number…
Led by larger urban metro markets, single-family growth rates are showing signs of a turnaround as moderating mortgage rates and a lack of existing inventory are contributing to a gradual upward trend, according to the latest findings from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI) for the fourth quarter of…
NAHB analysis of Census data shows that private residential construction spending rose 0.2% in January 2024, the second month of gains in a row. It stood at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of $900.8 billion. The monthly increase in total construction spending is attributed to more single-family construction. Spending on single-family construction rose 0.6% in…
Over the past decade, use of the term “barndominium” (indicating a structure that is, in some sense, a combination barn and condominium) has become increasingly widespread in real estate media outlets. In fact, the term has become popular enough for NAHB to include a question about it in its survey for the February 2024 NAHB/Wells…
