18
May
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market,

NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Holds Steady in May

The National Association of Home Builders reported that home builder confidence in the U.S. housing market conditions held steady for the fourth consecutive month in May. Builder confidence stayed at a reading of 58, which was the number expected by analysts and was also the reading for April. Analysts said that the consistency in readings signified expansion in housing markets. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders than not are confident about market conditions. Components of the NAHB Housing Market Index include readings on builder confidence in current market conditions which held steady at 63 and builder confidence in…
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28
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market, ,

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slower in November

Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports for November indicate that home price growth continues to slow. The 20-City Home Price Index dropped by 0.20 percent to November's reading of 4.30 percent year-over-year.  The five cities with highest year-over-year home price growth rates in November were: San Francisco, California 8.90% Miami, Florida 8.60% Las Vegas, Nevada and Dallas, Texas 7.70% Denver, Colorado 7.50% The five cities with the lowest year-over-year growth in home prices were: Cleveland, Ohio 0.60% Washington, DC 1.90% New York, New York and Minneapolis, Minnesota 1.50% Chicago, Illinois 2.00% There were no instances of year-over-year depreciation in home prices…
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16
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market, ,

Home Builder Index Stays Near Nine Year Peak

Home Builder Sentiment slipped to a reading of 57 in December according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index. November's reading of 58 prompted analysts to project a reading of 59 for December. The latest reading marks the sixth consecutive month for readings above 50. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders are positive about housing market conditions than not. The one-point decline in December's reading kept the NAHB Housing Market Index within two points of a nine-year high reached in September. NAHB: Housing Market Index Suggests Slow Return to Normalcy NAHB's chief economist, David Crowe,…
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26
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market, , ,

DOC New Home Sales and NAR Existing Home Sales

The Department of Commerce reported July sales of new homes dropped by 2.40 percent over June to a four month low. Analysts noted that although July's reading of 412,000 new homes sold fell short of expectations and June's reading, the new homes sector is volatile and subject to change. June's reading of 406,000 new homes sold was revised to 422,000 new homes sold; expectations were based on the original reading. Three of four regions posted a slower rate of growth for home prices with only the South posting a gain. The average price of a new home in the U.S.…
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16
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market, ,

Just How Sustainable Is The Micro Housing Trend?

Something that the Europeans have been doing for decades has finally made its way over the Atlantic Ocean to North America: the trend is called micro housing, and it's turned into an entirely new way of living. With micro housing, we're beginning to do away with oversize condos and even detached homes, learning to live in a more minimalistic manner and curbing our hoarding habits for good. The affordability of micro housing is making it possible even for young adults and students to purchase their homes in the city centers across North America. But one must ask, is the micro…
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