Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Existing Home Sales Hit 7-Month Low as Prices Keep Rising
Existing home sales in August remained at the lowest level since January as limited inventory and higher mortgage rates continued to weigh on homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the third consecutive month where the median sales prices exceeded $400,000. A resurgence of… Read More ›
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Inflation Accelerates for Second Straight Month
Consumer prices in August saw the largest monthly gain since June 2022, primarily driven by a surge in gasoline costs. Core service inflation excluding housing was little changed in August, suggesting that the path toward disinflation ahead still has some fluctuations. Meanwhile, shelter costs continued to remain at a high level and was the second-largest contributor to the increase in… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Slide to 6-Month Low
Existing home sales in July fell to the lowest level since January as limited inventory and higher mortgage rates continued to weight on homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the first year-over-year price increase since January. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes,… Read More ›
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Housing Costs Persist as Key Driver of Inflation
Consumer prices showed a slight uptick in July, with core inflation remained sticky, ending a streak of 12 consecutive months of steady declines. Despite a slowdown compared to the previous month, the shelter index (housing inflation) continued to be the largest contributor to both headline and core inflation, accounting for over 90% of the increase in headline inflation. The Fed’s… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Down Again Amid Limited Inventory
Existing home sales in June fell to the lowest level since January as limited inventory and fluctuating mortgage rates continued to weight on homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low resale inventory and strong demand pushed existing home prices to the highest level in a year and contributed to the recent increases in new home sales. Total… Read More ›
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CPI Eases Further as Housing Inflation Slows
Consumer prices in June saw a continued deceleration, with the smallest year-over-year gain since March 2021. Over the past twelve months, inflation has been consistently decelerating. Despite a slowdown compared to the previous month, the shelter index (housing inflation) continued to be the largest contributor to both headline and core inflation, accounting for over 70% of the increase in headline… Read More ›
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Share of Two or More Stories New Homes Maintains Lead in 2022
Data obtained from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB, show that the rising trend of two or more stories homes continued in 2022. Although the overall share remained virtually unchanged, the share of two or more stories homes started construction was greater than one story homes in 2022. Nationwide, the share of new homes… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Up Slightly in May
After two consecutive monthly declines, existing home sales saw a modest increase in May as mortgage rates were relatively steady in April, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory continued to weight on homebuyers. Low resale inventory and strong demand have contributed to the recent increases in new home sales. Total existing… Read More ›
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Consumer Confidence Rebounds in June
Consumer confidence in June rose to its highest level in 17 months as recession concerns eased. However, spending plans were mixed. Vacation intentions continued to improve, while the intention to buy homes and big-ticket appliances cooled further due to elevated mortgage rates. This shift in consumer preference from goods to services is likely to continue this year. The Consumer Confidence… Read More ›
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Inflation Slows to Lowest Level since March 2021
Consumer prices in May saw the smallest year-over-year gain since March 2021, mainly driven by lower energy prices. This marked the eleventh consecutive month of deceleration. While this measure aligned with expectations, core inflation remained persistent due to the increase in rent prices. The shelter index (housing inflation) continued to be the largest contributor to both headline and core inflation,… Read More ›