Eye On Housing
Consumer confidence rose slightly following two months of declines thanks to the optimism in the short-term outlook. Even though confidence rose in March, consumers are planning to spend less on highly discretionary categories such as concerts and dining. As a result, consumers are planning to spend more on less discretionary categories such as home maintenance and repair. The Consumer Confidence… Read More ›
Consumer confidence rose to an eight-month high in December as declining gas prices and easing inflation contributed to more optimistic views of economy. However, spending plans were mixed. Vacation intentions improved, 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… Read More ›
Recently released data by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and Case-Shiller indicates that its measure of house prices, the House Price Index – National, rose by 5.6% on a year-over-year not seasonally adjusted basis. This is the 27th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in the house price index. Over this period of more than two years, house prices have risen by… Read More ›
If you see a house of a certain price and have a little experience with spreadsheets, it’s fairly easy to calculate the mortgage payment and compare it to your income to see if you can afford the home. But if you want to do the reverse calculation—start with your income and see what price home you can afford—it’s a little… Read More ›