According to nationalmortgagenews, new home sales in Dec. 2012 dropped 7.3 percent to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 369,000 units from 398,000 in Nov., which marked a two-and-a-half-year high. The Census Bureau estimates new home sales increased 20 percent from 2011 to 367,000 units for 2012. While there were …
MHProNews has learned from oregonnow that one of the 14 MHCs that have closed in the Portland, Oregon area since 2005, Baseline Woods Mobile Home Park, in Aloha, will soon see the rise of 230 apartments and 300 homes. While the developer says the housing is needed to respond to …
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says the demand for housingfor those 55 and older will increase through 2020 as the boomers age. Says the NAHB’s Paul Emrath, “We expect to see an increased demand for 55+ housing as more baby boomers turn 55 and seek homes and communities …
The Observer reports NYC’s Bloomberg Administration’s My Micro NY competition to create a miniature housing model for the city was won by Monandock Development in collaboration with the Actors Fund for Housing Development and modular home builder Capsys, which is based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Although it is illegal …
CNNMoney reports according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) sales of previously owned homes in 2012 recorded their best year since 2007, nine percent over 2011, to 4.65 million homes sold. As MHProNews has learned, Dec. year-over-year sales were up 12.8 percent. NAR says low interest rates, falling unemployment, …
CNNMoney informs MHProNews that first-time jobless claims fell to 335,000 for the week ending Jan. 12, falling to a near five-year low, and 37,000 less than the previous week, according to the Labor Dept. While economists had expected a reading of 370,000, they say it is a good sign but …
SeekingAlpha, noting trends in the global economy, picks out five stocks it says will be lucrative in the long run, and one of them is Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B). As the housing market continues to recover, columnist Frank J. Constantino says Berkshire does has a broad range of investments, but …
CNNMoney says the Census Bureau reports new home construction rose 12 percent Dec. 2012 over Nov. 2012 to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 954,000, well beyond the 889,000 expected by economists at Briefing.com, and almost 37 percent higher than Dec. 2011. While applications for building permits in Dec. changed …
From HousingWire comes news that all 12 Federal Reserve districts indicate the economy is growing, at least moderately, in their areas, according to the Beige Book. Loan demand grew in New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta but fell slightly in St. Louis. While posting a modicum of growth in loan …
NationalMortgageNews reports on a seasonally adjusted basis, purchase applications rose 13 percent over the week ending Jan. 4, but are up 47 percent on an unadjusted basis, their highest level since April 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Noting home sales burgeoning in Calif. in Dec. because of …
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports the market for newly built, single-family homes remained at 47 on the Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for Jan., following eight consecutive monthly gains. As MHProNews has learned, the HMI is at its highest point since April 2006, right before the …
According to HousingWire, CoreLogic offers the following housing scorecard for 2012: 4.2 million home sales, up from 3.9 million in 2011, a six percent increase; first year-over-year sales increase since 2005; REO (real estate-owned) house sales fell 20% to 600,000; new home sales rose three percent to 300,000; short sales …
NationalMortgageNews tells MHProNews Lender Processing Services (LPS) estimates 2.6 million Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans may yet be eligible for financing through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). 50 percent of these have credit scores of 720 or above, including 670,000 with interest rates above six percent. Since the …
Ten Million Borrowers Remain Eligible to Lower Rates Read More
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports framing lumber prices in random lengths hit $396 per 1,000 board feet Jan. 11, 2013, more than double the $193 price Jan. 23, 2008. As MHProNews has learned, this is substantially higher than the $316 price per 1,000 board feet recorded Oct. …
MHProNews has learned the U.S. Census Bureau and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have for the first time made public their findings on the quality of housing in the U.S., available on the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder. The survey of the nation’s 115 million households includes apartments, …
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the first 11 months of 2012 is setting the stage for what is anticipated to be a record year for the housing market, once Dec. numbers are in. HousingWire says NAR’s Housing Affordability Index through Nov. 2012 stood at 198.2, and expects …
Institutional investors as well as nontraditional investors are poised with $6 to $9 billion to acquire REO (real estate-owned) properties that many number from 60,000 to 90,000 in the single-family rental market, according to nationalmortgagenews. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Jade Rahmani says while this may account for only 15 …
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says its First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) rose from 201 in Dec. to 242 this month, an increase of over 20 percent. Now including 48 states and the District of Columbia, before being added to the list the metro area must show …
Economist Joseph Brusuelas, writing in a Bloomberg Brief on the 2012 housing review and outlook for 2013, says, “Rising purchases of homes from cash buyers and investors reduced the monthly supply of existing homes on the market to 4.8 months in November from 6.4 months in January of 2012. Careful …
BillingsGazette reports nine workers at the newly-opened System Building Solutions (SBS) in Laurel, Mont. are getting on-the-job training building a two-story 20-room modular man camp for the Bakken oil field build-out in western North Dakota. Utilizing resources in the Billings area, SBS is working out of a building previously occupied …
