Key Takeaways From the December Existing Home Sales Report
Existing home sales increased 14.7 percent from November to December to 5.46 million units, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to the National Association of Realtors. Buoyed by regulatory changes that likely pushed some closings into December from November, existing home sales more than reversed the 10.5 percent decline reported from October to November.
December Market Report: Expect Rental Growth to Cool in 2016, But Affordability Problems to Remain
For the past few years, a major theme in housing has been rapid rental growth, and the largely negative impacts that is having on the housing market on everything from homeownership rates to affordability. But over the next year, there is – some – relief in sight.
Rapid Reaction: December Existing Home Sales
December existing home sales were up big, but it’s important to keep things in context. After a positive start to the year, existing sales in the second half of 2015 were roughly flat. And December’s big gain follows an almost equally large drop in November.
Middling, at Best: The Slow Recovery of Residential Construction Jobs
It is neither the best of times nor the worst of times for the residential construction industry. Instead, the industry seems stuck somewhere in the middle, growing sufficiently to put the lean recession years firmly in the rearview, but not enough to declare a full-blown comeback in construction jobs.
A Fistful of Dollars: Cash Buyers in the West, & the Rest*
Western gunslingers of yore may have risked their lives for a fistful of dollars, but today’s Western homebuyers more often than not come armed with a mortgage instead of cash.
December 2015 Home Sales Forecast: Existing Up, New Down
Sales of existing homes should rebound in December after a sharp November decline, while new home sales look set to retreat after an unexpectedly strong November.
A Penny Saved: How High Rent Burdens Impact Savings Rates
Paying less in rent is no guarantee that a household will save more of their income. But paying more sure makes saving difficult.
