I know this is a crazy stat, given how much the builders’ confidence is falling, but new home sales just had the highest monthly sales print in years. Can this be revised lower in the future? Yes, just like the previous months have been. But there’s a bigger story here that I’ll address because this […]
Why did we just see the highest new home sales print in years? Read More »
Hurricane season is set to commence on June 1, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — which has been experiencing organizational challenges for the past several weeks — has reportedly rescinded its guiding plan for agency objectives and priorities, according to multiple FEMA employees and a memo obtained by news outlet Wired. On Wednesday,
FEMA rescinds strategic agency plan ahead of hurricane season Read More »
New-home sales continue to be a bright spot in a housing market that’s struggling with high mortgage rates and other economic headwinds. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), new homes in April sold at seasonally adjusted annual rate of 743,000, which is a
Buyers shrug off economic uncertainty as new-home sales rise Read More »
Last year, I predicted a national home-price increase of 2.33%. While that forecast was lower than most others, it seemed achievable due to higher mortgage rates and increased inventory. I was wrong and too low for 2024. This year, my prediction is even lower at 1.77% national home-price growth. So far this year, the existing home
With more inventory, where are home prices headed? Read More »
U.S. home prices are projected to flatten in the third quarter and decline 1% year over year by the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a new report from Redfin. The company also expects mortgage rates to remain elevated near 7% through the end of the year. This marks a sharp reversal from more than
Home prices expected to dip as supply and demand collide Read More »
Below is a timeline of the actions the Trump administration or Congressional Republicans have taken that impact housing since President Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025, along with additional coverage of those topics. CFPB Tariffs HUD HUD watchdog swept up in large-scale firings of inspector general Jan. 27 Memo mixup: Trump calls for freeze
Updated list of all Trump’s actions that impact housing Read More »
President Donald Trump has made deregulation a policy pillar for his second term — and housing regulations are up for review. Homebuilders say that federal rules have driven up the cost of building a home. Many mortgage professionals want to release Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship. And there were no shortage of complaints
Where land-use regulations are driving up housing costs Read More »
As issues continue to persist across the country for local housing authorities, the situation in Houston has led to an investigation by prominent local media outlets and a commissioned report by outside legal counsel. The probe found that mismanagement of contractors and the submission of fraudulent paperwork likely led to millions of dollars in losses.
Fraud, mismanagement led to millions in losses for Houston Housing Authority Read More »
The rising cost of homeowners’ insurance coupled with the rising regularity of weather-related natural disasters is serving to erode the longstanding barrier between mortgage lenders and loan losses, according to a new report published by First Street. As the frequency of disasters has risen — destabilizing the insurance market, limiting coverage and raising consumers’ costs
Extreme weather and high insurance costs pose foreclosure risk Read More »
Rural areas of the U.S. that have long been viewed as a refuge for affordable homeownership are now grappling with rising prices, limited inventory and increasing competition — pressures once thought unique to urban housing markets. “Even the term ‘affordable’ feels like a relic of the past,” said Jake Vehige, president of mortgage lending at
Rural America isn’t immune to housing squeeze Read More »