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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Existing Sales Hit Inventory Wall
Existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), reversed a January gain and decreased 3.7% in February. At the current sales rate, the February unsold inventory represents a 3.8-month supply, compared to a 3.5-month supply in January. February existing sales were up 5.4% from the same month a year ago, and reached a seasonally adjusted rate… Read More ›
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Top Ten Publicly-Traded Builder Share Jumps in 2016
The 2016 top ten publicly-traded builders captured a 27.4% share of new single-family home closings, up from 27.1% in 2015. The 27.4% share in 2016 is out of the 559,000 new home sales reported by the Census Bureau. However, this count represents a smaller share of the total single-family market when not-for-sale, custom home building is included. 2016 Top 10… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Hampered by Insufficient Supply
The Pending Home Sales Index decreased 2.8% in January 2017 to its lowest level in a year, although it remained 0.4% above last January. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), decreased to 106.4 in January from an upwardly revised 109.5 the previous month. The PHSI… Read More ›
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Existing Sales Fast Out of 2017 Gate
Existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased 3.3% in January, reaching the fastest pace since February 2007. At the current sales rate, the January unsold inventory represents a 3.6-month supply, unchanged from December. January existing sales were up 3.8% from the same month a year ago, and advanced to a seasonally adjusted rate of… Read More ›
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2016 Existing Sales Best Since 2006
Existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), decreased 2.8% in December, but ended 2016 as the best year for existing sales since 2006. December sales were up a slight 0.7% from the same month a year ago. Total 2016 existing home sales reached 5.45 million, exceeding the 5.25 million in 2015. Total existing home sales… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Retreat
The Pending Home Sales Index decreased 2.5% in November 2016 to its lowest level since January 2016, and is 0.4% below November 2015. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), decreased to 107.3 in November 2016 from 110.0 the previous month. The PHSI increased 0.6% in… Read More ›
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Existing Sales Year-End Sprint
Existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased 0.7% in November for a third consecutive monthly increase, and reached the highest pace since February 2007. November sales were up 15.4% from the same month a year ago. Total existing home sales in November increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.61 million units combined for… Read More ›
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NAHB Economics Presentations at IBS
The 2017 NAHB International Builders Show opens in Orlando Florida on Tuesday, January 10 at the Orange County Convention Center. NAHB’s Economics and Housing Policy staff will offer analyses of what to expect in 2017 for all sectors of the housing market. A sample of sessions, including locations, is offered below. The 2017 Housing & Economic Outlook January 10… Read More ›
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Pending Sales Maintain Pace
The Pending Home Sales Index increased a slight 0.1% in October, but was 1.8% higher than last October. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased to 110.0 in October from a downwardly revised 109.9 in September. The PHSI increased 1.6% in the Midwest, 0.7% in… Read More ›
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Existing Sales Revival
Existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased 2.0% in October and reached the highest pace since February 2007. In October sales increased for the second straight month, and were up 5.9% from the same month a year ago. Total existing home sales in October increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.60 million units… Read More ›