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.

Fewer Affordable Options for Potential First-Time Home Buyers as Mortgage Rates Rise

By Ksenia Potapov on October 5, 2022
As mortgage rates have steadily risen, affordability has decreased significantly for home buyers across income levels. However, affordability for the potential first-time home buyer – those currently renting – has faced the most pressure. Nationally, affordability for potential first-time home buyers declined 19 percentage points in June 2022 ... Read More

Homeownership First-Time Home Buyer Outlook Report Renter Affordability

Where is Housing Overvalued?

By Mark Fleming on September 27, 2022
Housing affordability continued its rapid annual decline in July 2022, as nominal house prices increased 16.7 percent year over year and the 30-year, fixed mortgage rate increased 2.5 percentage points compared with a year ago. The decline in affordability is reflected in the Real House Price Index (RHPI) jumping up by nearly 54 percent on an ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Why Housing Market Potential Increased for the First Time in Nearly a Year

By Mark Fleming on September 21, 2022
August marked the first time in nearly a year that housing market potential increased on a monthly basis, increasing 2.1 percent compared with July to an estimated pace of 5.61 million at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR). The month-over-month increase was also the largest monthly increase in housing market potential since December ... Read More

Interest Rates Potential Home Sales Tenure

Where are House Prices Moderating the Most?

By Mark Fleming on August 29, 2022
In June 2022, the Real House Price Index (RHPI) jumped up by 53.3 percent on an annual basis, setting a new record for the fifth month in a row for the fastest year-over-year growth in the more than 30-year history of the series. This rapid annual decline in affordability was driven by an 18.5 percent annual increase in nominal house prices and a ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Is this the Great Normalization of the Housing Market?

By Mark Fleming on August 17, 2022
According to our Potential Home Sales Model, the market potential for existing-home sales in July was estimated to be 5.45 million at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR), down 0.2 percent compared with last month, and 14.4 percent lower than one year ago. Read More

Interest Rates Potential Home Sales Tenure

Where Potential First-Time Home Buyers Can Find Relief from the Affordability Shock

By Ksenia Potapov on August 10, 2022
Following two years of red-hot activity accelerated by pandemic-era dynamics, the housing market is cooling as demand falls in response to a significant decline in affordability. Double-digit house-price appreciation chipped away at affordability as the pandemic-driven supply and demand imbalance fueled competition for a limited inventory of homes ... Read More

Homeownership First-Time Home Buyer Outlook Report Renter Affordability