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Housing Headlines

Construction spending climbs, hits record high in December

ECONOMIC NEWS

Fox Business

Construction spending climbs, hits record high in December

National Association of Home Builders CEO Jerry Howard reacts to record-high construction spending, explaining why he thinks housing demand is going to start increasing as well.

MarketWatch

Homeownership rate reaches three-year high as rebound from crisis gathers pace

More Americans became homeowners in the final three months of last year, fresh evidence that homeownership is rebounding after touching a post-crisis low.

MarketWatch

Home prices accelerated in November, Case-Shiller shows

The numbers: The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in the three-month period ending in November compared to the same period ending in October, and was up 6.4% compared to a year before. The national index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% for the month, and 6.2% for the year.

MarketWatch

Pending home sales inch higher as tight inventory stifles housing market

U.S. pending home sales rose 0.5% in December, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That's the highest reading since March, even though the index stands just 0.5% higher than a year ago.

Forbes

2018's housing market looks good unless you're a first-time millennial buyer

The Nation's housing market for 2018 continues to look good according to two recently released reports. Though, first-time Millennial buyers will continue to struggle with affordability especially in high priced areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York and Washington DC.

 

MarketWatch

Mortgage rates advance for fourth straight week

Mortgage rates advanced for the fourth straight week, as the market begins to price in a more aggressive Federal Reserve and burgeoning inflation pressures.

The Wall Street Journal

My 10-year odyssey through the housing crisis 

After looking at several houses along Alabama's Gulf Coast, we decided the sunny cottage on Audubon Drive in Foley was the one—so long as the seller came down a little on the price. (Subscription may be required.)

MarketWatch

Fed to take a step toward a March interest-rate hike

The Federal Reserve will make subtle, hawkish, changes to its statement this week to confirm what the market now expects: a rate hike is coming in March.

 

 

HOUSING FINANCE NEWS

Scotsman Guide

GSE bill would expand competition and Ginnie Mae

A housing-finance reform bill now pending in the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs proposes to create a system where multiple entities are allowed to compete against each other to purchase and securitize mortgages, according to a draft of the bill leaked to the media this week.

Washington Examiner

Civil rights, affordable housing groups bash bipartisan Fannie, Freddie reform bill

Civil rights and affordable housing groups are criticizing a draft bipartisan bill to overhaul the housing finance system and revamp Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a development that could cement liberal opposition to the legislative effort.

 

TRENDS

The Wall Street Journal

Say goodbye to garages as developers imagine a driverless future

Mass adoption of driverless cars is still years away, but architects, developers and planners already are designing new projects with autonomous vehicles in mind. (Subscription may be required.)

The Washington Post

A good night's sleep can be a key feature in your dream home

Sending midnight emails from the comfort of bed used to be the ultimate status symbol. Now, science and society are tending to agree that it's the ultimate drag.

 

WOTUS

The New York Times

EPA blocks Obama-era clean water rule

The Trump administration has formally suspended a major Obama-era clean water regulation ahead of plans to issue its own version of the rule later this year.

 

MULTIFAMILY

Forbes

Three reasons multifamily developers should focus on baby boomer renters

For the past few years, the importance of appealing to millennial renters has dominated the conversation. But, based on recent trends, the industry should really start honing their focus on baby boomers. From being the fastest-growing tenant profile to experiencing less rent burden to staying in one place for longer than other demographics, baby boomers are the ideal tenant in today's luxury multifamily space.

 

TAX REFORM

The New York Times

Tucked into the tax bill, a plan to help distressed America

A little-noticed section in the $1.5 trillion tax cut that President Trump signed into law late last month is drawing attention from venture capitalists, state government officials and mayors across America.