Spring break is fast approaching, that playful time of year when beach cities are inundated with college students and tourists. As housing economists, spring break is exciting because it coincides with the beginning of the spring home buying season! While we may not seem to have much in common with the college crowd, there is an underlying ... Read More ›

Recent economic data and comments by members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) all suggest that the chance of a rate increase this week after the FOMC meets is substantially higher than it was just a few weeks ago. Now that we are most likely in a rising rate environment, what does it mean for housing affordability? Read More ›

The spring home-buying season is right around the corner. As we reflect back on the spring of last year, it becomes clear that we were spoiled in 2016 with mortgage rates well below 4 percent at the beginning spring, and flirting with record lows at 3.4 percent in the summer. This year began with mortgage rates at 4.25 percent, and concern ... Read More ›

First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming shares his proprietary Potential Home Sales model with analysis of housing market trends in January 2017. Read More ›

For Valentine’s Day, we pondered the question, could more love lead to an increase in homeownership? This is a serious question because marriage and homeownership, perhaps the two most enduring institutions of our society, have shaped the economic fortunes of many Americans. Read More ›

We all love our football, no more so than this weekend. But, it’s not just about cheering on your favorite team, guiltlessly eating wings, nachos or your favorite in-game football snack food, and gathering around that ever increasingly massive television (after all, it’s the second best time of the year to buy a television according to Consumer ... Read More ›