Housing construction was expected to fall in November. Instead, it surged.

Dec 19, 2023
Housing starts surged nearly 15%, blowing expectations out of the water. What does that mean for the future of the housing market?
In November, 1.56 million single-family homes began construction, up nearly 15% from October.
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Is cost of housing the culprit for pessimism about economy?

Dec 12, 2023
Inflation dipped slightly, but housing remains the biggest driver of rising prices.
Rents have gone up almost 30% just in the last couple of years. And high mortgage rates mean buying is out of reach for many current renters.
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With high prices and interest rates, homebuyers feel the pressure

Dec 8, 2023
Realty firm Redfin said homes are less affordable than at any time since they started tallying the numbers 11 years ago.
Someone with median income would need to spend more than 40% of their monthly wages to afford the median home this year, a new report by Redfin shows
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More older people are still paying off mortgages

Nov 30, 2023
New data from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies shows that a growing number of people in their 60s, 70s and 80s still have mortgage debt, and they’re carrying more of it than than previous generations did.
In 1989, just 3% of homeowners over 80 still had a mortgage. Now, nearly a third do.
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Home prices in Detroit are on the upswing

Nov 29, 2023
They were up 6.7% in September from a year ago, according to an index out this week from S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller — the highest of the 20 metro areas.
Above, a view of Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Home prices in the city climbed 6.7% in September from a year ago, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index.
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Thanks to a Missouri jury, the way we buy and sell homes may change

Nov 1, 2023
The jurors found that the National Association of Realtors and a couple of big brokerages conspired to inflate commissions.
Homebuyers could have more power to negotiate lower agent fees, said Susan Wachter of  Wharton.
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For public good, not for profit.

With many homebuyers priced out, builders try to sweeten the deal

Oct 25, 2023
A lot of homebuilders are working with lenders to offer lower mortgage rates — or they're offering other incentives like money towards closing costs.
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America needs more houses, but homebuilders are hobbled by high interest rates

Oct 18, 2023
The number of completed homes rose last month. But further up the housing pipeline, homebuilders are starting fewer projects right now.
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What should Ireland do with its budget surplus?

Oct 9, 2023
Ireland has a budget surplus of $10.9 billion, which has been driven by soaring corporate tax revenue from tech and pharmaceutical companies.
Above, a boarded-up property is pictured in Dublin. Some Irish residents see housing as a key area where a surplus in tax revenue could be put to use.
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