Eye On Housing
Author Archives
Stephen Melman, J.D., is the Director of Economic Services at the National Association of Home Builders. Mr. Melman is a spokesman for NAHB’s forecast of new housing trends and the analysis of the home building industry. He has published numerous research articles on topics including industry structure and publicly traded builders. Before his current position, Mr. Melman was responsible for NAHB’s multifamily and federal housing program initiatives. Prior to NAHB, Mr. Melman was an Appeals Officer for the US Civil Service Commission in Washington, DC. He is a former president of Sinai House, a nonprofit that provides transitional housing for homeless families in Washington, DC. Mr. Melman earned a J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law, a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University, and a B.A. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.
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Pending Sales Up 0.2% in November
The Pending Home Sales Index increased slightly by 0.2% in November, and is 0.8% above a year ago. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The PHSI increased 4.1% in the Northeast and 0.4% in the Midwest, but decreased 0.4% in the South and 1.8%… Read More ›
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NAHB Economics Presentations at IBS
The 2018 NAHB International Builders Show opens in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center. NAHB’s Economics and Housing Policy staff will offer analyses of what to expect in 2018 for all sectors of the housing market. A sample of sessions, including locations, is offered below. The 2018 Housing & Economic Outlook January… Read More ›
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Existing Sales Surge 5.6% in November
November existing sales embraced an end of the year rally, increasing 5.6% to the highest level since December 2006; but the first-time buyer share of 29% continued to disappoint. The National Association of Realtors reported 44% of homes sold last month were on the market less than a month, a slightly slower pace than the 47% last month. The November… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Rebound from Hurricanes
The Pending Home Sales Index increased 3.5% in October as the South recovered from the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), remains 0.6% below the level a year ago. The PHSI jumped 7.4% in the South, and also increased… Read More ›
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Existing Sales Up 2.0% in October
October existing sales increased 2.0%, and the first-time buyer share increased to 32% of sales. The National Association of Realtors projected that Texas and Florida sales are now expected to completely bounce back by the end of the year from declines due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Some 47% of homes sold last month were on the market less than… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Flat
The Pending Home Sales Index, unchanged in September, has fallen on an annual basis in five of the past six months, and is at its lowest level since January 2015. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), remained unchanged at 106.0 from a downwardly revised August… Read More ›
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September Existing Sales Slightly Up
September existing sales increased slightly by 0.7% for the first time in four months, but the first-time buyer share decreased to 29% of sales, the lowest share since September 2015. The National Association of Realtors reported that parts of Texas and South Florida had temporary but notable declines due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Some 48% of homes sold last… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Fall, Market Stalls
The Pending Home Sales Index decreased in August for the fifth time in six months, pulling 2017 existing sales below the pace set in 2016. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), decreased 2.6% to 106.3 in August, the lowest level since January 2016. The PHSI… Read More ›
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August Existing Sales Remain Sluggish
August existing sales declined for the fourth time in five months, and only some of that decline was attributed to Hurricane Harvey. Despite gains in the Northeast and Midwest, existing home sales fell 1.7% in August, and remained only 0.2% above the level a year ago. Some 51% of homes sold last month were on the market less than a… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Continue to Slide
The Pending Home Sales Index decreased in July for the fourth time in five months, and now has decreased year-over-year in three of the past four months. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), decreased 0.8% to 109.1 in July from a downwardly revised 110.0 in… Read More ›