Housing

Housing markets are ever-changing.  Each month Atlas notes developments when writing about both the new and existing home sales.  Many obvious changes happen (e.g., prices, transaction volume, or inventories), but other underlying currents are less obvious.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) created their 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, and it sheds some light o

Housing is a primary driver for wealth here in America.  Many leverage their balance sheets and buy a home, anticipating the value will rise, pushing their net-worth higher.   Take a look at any chart of recent home prices, and it looks like this strategy works.  Yes, there are periods when the values of homes fall (e.g., the Great Financial Crisis), but for the most part th

Existing home sales grew for a second consecutive month in March 2018 according to the National Association of Realtors.  At a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, completed contracts rose 1.1 percent to 5.6 million units.  However, the year-over-year tally is still 1.2 percent lower despite the strong monthly uptick.

Sales of new homes fell in December 2017 according to the Census Bureau.  Signed contracts declined 9.3 percent in the period to 625,000 units on an annualized rate.

New home sales growth was strong in November 2017 according to data from the Census Bureau.  Rising to 733,000 units on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, its 17.5 percent surge is the largest in 25 years.  Compared to a year earlier, transactions increased 26.6 percent. 

New home sales in America have been strong during the past couple of months according to data from the Census Bureau.  After surging 14.2 percent in September, this volatile indicator continued its upward trend in October 2017 by adding another 6.2 percent.  With contract signings reaching 685,000 on an annualized basis, this latest swell puts the indicator at its best level in the cu

Sales of new homes surged in September 2017.  According to the Census Bureau, transactions rose to 667,000 on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis.  This is 18.9 percent above August’s upwardly revised tally of 561,000 (originally 560,000).  This jump represents the largest percentage gain in 28 years and puts the indicator at its highest level in the current economic cyc

Sales of new homes fell in August 2017 according to the Census Bureau.  Transaction volume declined 3.4 percent versus July, falling to 560,000 units on an annualized basis.  Compared to a year earlier, 1.2 percent fewer contracts were signed in the period, declining for a second consecutive time.