The looming expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program by September 30th brings uncertainty to the real estate market. As the Federal Reserve appears poised to cut interest rates in September, another key aspect of the housing market remains in question. If the NFIP is not reauthorized by Congress, it could complicate the process of
Real Estate
The recent economic policies unveiled by Vice President Kamala Harris have brought affordable housing back into the limelight. Harris proposed the construction of 3 million new housing units over the next four years to address the growing housing affordability crisis. This approach has been praised by experts in the field, such as Daryl Fairweather, chief
The shareholder returns for leading homebuilders D.R. Horton and Lennar showed significant outperformance compared to the wider S&P 500 index between August 2014 and August 2024. Despite this initial success, analysts recently downgraded the investment outlook for both companies. This shift raises questions about the future trajectory of the industry. However, there are investors who
The National Association of Realtors reported a 1.3% increase in closed sales of previously owned homes in July compared to June, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.95 million units. This marks the first gain in five months, offering a glimmer of hope for the housing market recovery. Despite this positive trend, sales were
The past week has seen a decrease in mortgage rates for the third consecutive week. However, there has been a noticeable decline in applications to refinance home loans, indicating a 15% drop from the previous week. Despite this decrease, the volume is significantly higher compared to a year ago, likely due to a 23% surge
The recent interest rate cut by the Bank of England has had a significant impact on mortgage rates in the UK. Major lenders such as Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, and NatWest are now offering five-year fixed-rate mortgages below 4%, which is lower than the BOE’s key rate of 5%. This move has sparked a boom in
Inflation in the United States continued to decrease in July, largely driven by a reduction in price pressures on consumer staples like food and energy, as well as physical goods such as new and used cars. The consumer price index (CPI), a crucial measure of inflation, rose by 2.9% in July compared to the previous
The recent construction boom in the United States has had a significant impact on the rental market, leading to lower rents and other benefits for renters. With a record level of construction activity since the pandemic, the supply of empty units has increased, resulting in more inventory being available for renters across the country. According
Homeowners today are sitting on an impressive $17 trillion in equity, marking an average gain of $28,000 compared to the previous year. This equity represents a valuable asset that can be tapped into for various financial needs, making it a significant source of wealth for many individuals. Despite the substantial value it holds, experts like
Contrary to the prevailing belief held by a majority of Americans, the U.S. economy has not succumbed to a recession. Despite facing challenges such as inflation and high interest rates, the economy has managed to remain robust. According to a survey conducted by Affirm in June, 59% of respondents falsely perceive the country to be