New numbers from the National Association of Realtors show sales of previously owned homes down 8.5 percent in March from the month before. The slowdown was expected, due to the impact of coronavirus mitigation efforts. However, despite the decline, sales remain 0.8 percent higher than…
Naturally, the coronavirus has made buying and selling a home more complicated this spring. Social distancing and other mitigation efforts have changed the way we think about nearly everything, including the buying process. But according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors’…
New home construction plays an important role in the overall economy. That’s why the National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index is a closely watched barometer for the health of the housing market. The index asks home builders how confident they are in the…
Typically, economic forecasts rely on a mix of current and historical data. After all, if you understand where things are today and what’s happened in the past, you can make an educated guess about what the future might look like. This becomes harder, though, when…
First-time home buyers are an important demographic for the housing market. Historically speaking, they represent about 40 percent of buyers in any given year. Naturally, that means their wants and needs are important to anyone selling a home, including builders. So what type of home…
When thinking about the costs of homeownership, there are some big-ticket items that get most of the attention. But while prospective buyers focus on their potential mortgage payment, the price of the home, and possible renovations and maintenance projects, they’re less likely to think about…
Fannie Mae’s monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index measures Americans’ perceptions of the housing market, buying and selling a home, prices, mortgage rates, and their personal financial situation. According to the March survey – conducted during the first three weeks of the month – Americans have…
Spring is typically the housing market’s busiest season. Mostly, that’s because warmer weather and the chance for families to move and get settled in between school years makes it an opportune time to pack up and start somewhere new. This year, though, the coronavirus, social…