Housing Market Trends

From the First American Economic Center

The First American Economic Center has you covered with in-depth analysis and expert insights on the latest data and trends in the industry.

Recent Posts by Odeta Kushi

House Price Appreciation Poised to Accelerate as Pandemic Intensifies Housing Supply Shortage

By Odeta Kushi on June 2, 2020
In April, pandemic-related pressure drove the supply of homes for sale to its lowest April supply level ever. Even in the years prior to the pandemic, the lack of housing supply for sale was a significant headwind to the housing market. A major reason for the lack of homes for sale is increasing tenure – the length of time a homeowner lives in ... Read More

Housing Tenure Housing supply

What a Service Sector-Driven Recession Means for Homeownership Demand

By Odeta Kushi on May 14, 2020
The shutdown of large discretionary consumption segments of the U.S. economy, with the intent to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19, has triggered one of the fastest contractions in U.S. economic activity ever observed. As a result, millions of Americans have filed for jobless benefits and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent in April, ... Read More

Housing Homeownership

Why the Labor Market May Recover Faster than Previous Recessions

By Odeta Kushi on May 6, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic continues to significantly impact the domestic and global economy. Weekly unemployment claims in April have broken records and consumer confidence has declined with the worsening economic conditions. More than 18 percent of the labor force has claimed unemployment in the past six weeks. Less than two months ago, the ... Read More

Income Jobs Report

Where Is It Cheaper to Own a Home Than to Rent?

By Odeta Kushi on April 10, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic and its repercussions create challenges for all, it’s easy and important to focus on the day-to-day headlines and the information driving the news cycle at the moment. But, understanding long-term trends, even those that may be altered by the pandemic’s impacts, provides helpful insight into major decisions, like the ... Read More

Affordability Homeownership

Are Negative Mortgage Rates on the Horizon?

By Odeta Kushi on March 18, 2020
Given both emergency rate cuts of the Federal Reserve and the recent economic uncertainty due to the spread of the Coronavirus, the 10-year Treasury yield dropped to its lowest level in 150 years, according to Nobel Laureate Robert Shiller. For added perspective, that takes us back to the time of Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency. The 10-year Treasury ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve

Where Rent-Burdened Households Declined the Most

By Odeta Kushi on March 11, 2020
Beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2018, the share of rent-burdened households declined nationally – a trend reversal from the decade between 2000 and 2010. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, rent-burdened households spend over 30 percent of their income on rent. However, as the old adage goes, it’s all about ... Read More

Affordability Renter Affordability