Rapid Reaction: December Existing Home Sales
Three years of contracting inventory was bound to catch up with transactions sooner or later: Existing home sales posted a weak December, ending 2017 on a disappointing note after appearing to have picked up momentum in October and November.
December Home Sales Forecast: Slower Growth After a Strong November
After an exceptionally strong November, we expect the housing market faced greater headwinds in December.
Amazon’s HQ2 Contenders: By the Numbers
Here's a quick look at housing and other economic data for the 20 metros Amazon is considering for its second headquarters -- and up to 50,000 employees.
The Inventory Crisis: No End in Sight (December 2017 Market Report)
For-sale U.S. inventory is down 10 percent since last December, and has been falling on an annual basis for the past 35 months. Don't expect that to change any time soon.
Mortgage Rates Steady, But Tax Reform Could Mean Higher Rates Ahead
Absent spending cuts, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – enacted in December – is likely to boost federal government borrowing, meaning that mortgage borrowers will increasingly be competing with Uncle Sam for long-term loans at the same time more investors are willing to take a risk on overseas investments, which could mean less money for U.S. markets, including bonds. Together, these forces should push up interest rates over the coming months.
What Amazon’s Growth Has Meant for Seattle
As Amazon weighs where to locate its second headquarters, it's worth considering what the company's blockbuster growth has meant in Seattle.
For a Quarter More: Why 1 in 4 U.S. Home Sales in 2017 Sold Above List Price
Roughly a quarter of U.S. home sellers got more from their home than they asked for last year – in some cases, much, much more. Nationwide, buyers paid more than the asking price on 24.1 percent of home sales in 2017, netting sellers an additional $7,000 on average over their initial offering price.
Mortgage Rates Jump After Sleepy Holiday Season
The prospect of weakening international demand to buy U.S. debt, at the same time as Uncle Sam may need to begin selling more debt to make ends meet, likely helped push mortgage interest rates to their highest point in months early this week.
Hottest Markets for 2018 Include Tech Hotspots, Southeastern Charmers
Some markets have proven hotter than others – kept at a boil by healthy income growth, abundant job opportunities and above-average housing appreciation.
Tax Reform and Housing: All Your Questions Answered
New tax reform legislation makes major changes to longstanding federal tax incentives for homeowners -- and brings lots of questions. Here are some answers.
