A Look at the Boom in Home Builder Stocks During 2023
In 2023, stocks for the 10 biggest U.S. home builders outperformed the S&P 500. What does that say about the housing market?
Housing Demand Could Rebound in 2024 as Mortgage Rates Ease
The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts lower mortgage rates could bring homebuyers back into the market in 2024
The Federal Reserve Tightens Its Grip on the US Housing Market
Mortgage rates just surpassed a 23-year high, and experts say more rate hikes are on the horizon
Why Does the Housing Market Feel Like It's 1996?
The number of mortgage applications is currently at levels not seen since the mid-'90s
High Monthly Housing Expenses Are a Cause for Pause
With high median monthly mortgage payments, prospective buyers and sellers aren't too eager to jump into the for-sale market
How Much Does Homeownership Actually Cost?
A new study breaks down the costs of owning a home, from the initial down payment to utilities and everything in between
When the economic tide goes out
Two years ago, at the height of the global financial crisis, investor Warren Buffett pulled out this gem of a quote to describe the situation. “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.” And while this is an accurate expression of what happens to weak businesses when there is a downturn in the business cycle, it seems particularly apt as a description of the builder market before and after the housing market bubble burst.
14 ways builders can win in the sluggish economy
Successful builders obsess on sales conversion ratios, tracking key metrics, hiring the right people, and knowing where they stand in the marketplace, writes Bob Schultz in his latest column. Schultz offers 14 ways builders can win in the sluggish economy.
Survey: Builders cautiously upbeat about growth prospects for next year
While home builders are less than upbeat about the health of the overall housing market, most are optimistic when it comes forecasting revenue and profit for 2011, according to a survey of Professional Builder readers. More builders than not indicated that they are planning for flat or higher revenue and profit in the coming year, with nearly a fifth of respondents projecting revenue growth of 7 percent or higher.
7 million U.S. mortgages are delinquent or in foreclosure
More than 7 million mortgages in the United States are either at least 30 days past due or in the process of foreclosure, according to Lender Processing Service. Although the delinquency rate essentially remained the same, foreclosures are on the rise.
Housing starts plunge in October, hit 18-month low
Housing starts plunged to 519,000 in October, down from a revised 588,000 in September and well below the 600,000 that economists were expecting, according to the Commerce Dept. The rate is the lowest since April 2009, when it fell to 477,000 starts. It’s also the third lowest rate in more than 50 years.
NAHB: Builder confidence improves slightly in November
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved slightly in November, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released last week. The HMI rose one notch to 16 from a downwardly revised level of 15 in the previous month.
Residential construction spending up in September
Residential construction spending rose 1.8% in September, according a report from Reed Construction.
Zillow: Percentage of underwater mortgages increases
Nearly a quarter of U.S. mortgage holders owe more money than their house is worth, according to a report by Zillow. In the third quarter of 2010, the percentage of those underwater rose to 23.2 percent, up from 21.7 percent a year ago.
Realtors: Recovery will take time
Realtors at the annual conference in New Orleans got a sobering reminder that the housing boom is gone for good, The Wall Street Journal reported.