Housing starts in the U.S. fell last month to the lowest since May, as bloated home inventory slowed builders’ appetites to boost production. New residential construction decreased 8.5% last month to an annualized rate of 1.31 million homes, government data released Wednesday showed. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economist was for 1.37 […]
Housing starts fall to lowest since May in broad decline Read More »
Angus Mordant/Bloomberg Mortgage applications for new-home purchases remain up on a yearly basis, but August marked a notable fall from the summer’s first two months, new industry data showed. New-home purchase activity rose 1% compared with last year, but applications decreased by 6% from July, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey. August’s
New-home mortgage applications slow after two-month surge Read More »
Sentiment among U.S. homebuilders remained at one of its lowest levels in years this month, underscoring the deep freeze in the housing market despite a recent drop in mortgage rates. An index of market conditions from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo was unchanged at 32 in September, similar to economists’ estimates
Homebuilder sentiment stays low despite mortgage-rate drop Read More »
Tariff-influenced lumber price volatility this year has markets trying to read the tea leaves to determine what the implications might be for housing and the economy at large. Since reaching a three-year high in early August, lumber futures declined by 25% to trade at approximately $525 this week, data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange showed.
Lumber prices swing as tariff fears roil markets Read More »
The housing market could see a bump this fall akin to the traditional spring homebuying season. The steady mortgage rate decline and an atypical summer for home price growth could bring buyers off the sidelines, property analytics firm Cotality suggested in a recent report. Rates today are at their lowest point since last September, when
Buyers may flood market this fall. Here’s why Read More »
Residential construction spending saw its first monthly increase in six months this summer, as builders navigated their way through housing market and tariff-related challenges. While construction spending rose month over month in June, it still came in well under levels of a year ago, the National Association of Home Builders said in its analysis of
Home construction spending rises for first time in months Read More »
Homebuilder stocks are headed for their best monthly performance in over a year as the housing market increasingly shows signs of life. And Wall Street pros say the rally can keep going regardless of what the Federal Reserve decides to do with interest rates. READ MORE: Homebuilders encounter credit, supply cost headwinds “What we need
Real estate rebound sends builder stocks to best month in a year Read More »
The softening housing market is starting to show up in slightly smaller mortgage payments. Home buyers paid up to $45 less on mortgage applications in July compared to June, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. While some home loans are still more expensive than the same time last year, the trade group said buying power
How did monthly mortgage payments shrink this summer? Read More »
Sales of new US homes exceeded forecasts in July after an upward revision to the prior month, as prices eased and heavy incentives enticed more buyers off the fence. Contract signings on new single-family homes ticked down to a 652,000 annualized rate, with the strongest demand in the West, according to a government report issued
New-home sales exceed forecast following upward revision Read More »
Lenders, homeowners and servicers are facing a massive wildfire risk in the Western U.S. that extends beyond the initial burn. Insurance woes, inflationary pressures and contractor shortages are weighing on affected mortgage holders, according to Cotality’s 2025 Wildfire Risk Report. The assessment found nearly 2.6 million homes at moderate or greater risk of wildfire damage
How big is the wildfire risk in the Western housing market? Read More »