Housing Market
Easing Mortgage Standards
Mortgage standards appear to be loosening in what will be a critical factor in aiding the housing recovery. After a period of tight standards in the wake of the housing
OC New Home Market Takes a Breather
It appears that the pace of new home sales in Orange County is pulling back from its once rapid pace. With a low supply and strong demand dynamic, homebuilders had
Housing Starts Fall in January
Housing starts fell 2% in January to a 1.07 million annual rate from 1.09 million in the prior month. The decline was primarily due to a drop in single-family starts
New Normal for Homebuilding?
Nobody needs to be reminded that homebuilding is a highly cyclical business. However, each cycle also has its own characteristics, nuances and trajectories. Certainly, our most recent cycle, which both
Uptick in First-Time Homebuyer Activity
With a number of factors contributing – low mortgage rates, improving economy, easing credit requirements, slowing price appreciation, higher rents – it appears that first-time homebuyers are moving off the
December Data Bodes Well for Housing
Single-family building permits, housing starts and new home sales all posted strong numbers in December in an indication that the new home housing market is headed on a sustainable upward
Conventional Financing Gains Ground
In another sign of the increasing health of the housing market, the share of mortgage financing made through conventional loans continues to expand. In 2011, at a low point, the
Single-Family Starts Strong in December
The seasonally adjusted annual pace of single-family starts came in at 728,000 units for December. This figure is the highest level since March 2008 and a positive sign for the,
Return of the First-Time Homebuyer?
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of Realtors, sees 2015 as a potential turnaround point for the return of the first-time homebuyer. While the recovery thus far has
Obama Cuts Mortgage Insurance Rates
In a move that is intended to help nudge the housing recovery along, the Obama Administration lowers FHA mortgage insurance rates from .85% to .5%. The White House anticipates that
