What a Pandemic-Driven Shift in the Labor Market Could Mean for Housing

By Mark Fleming on November 12, 2020
The October jobs report exceeded consensus expectations for job growth, yet the labor market’s rebound continues to slow. Higher frequency data from weekly jobless claims confirm the slowdown, as the level of new jobless filings is not falling as quickly in recent months. COVID-19 cases are on the rise and there is increasing likelihood of a ... Read More

Housing Homeownership

Interview with Yahoo! Finance: Explaining the Housing Market’s Resilience in the COVID-19 Era

By FirstAm Editor on November 9, 2020
First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi was interviewed on Yahoo! Finance earlier this month, discussing why the housing market is better positioned in this recession than it was heading into the Great Recession, and how low rates and millennials are driving demand. Read More

Housing In The News Interest Rates Affordability

Homeownership Remains Strongly Linked to Wealth-Building

By Odeta Kushi on November 5, 2020
Economists study homeownership and policymakers often emphasize it because homeownership is an effective way to build wealth, especially for low-income households. In fact, quantifying the wealth-building power of homeownership shows that home is not only where your heart is, but also where your wealth is. Read More

Housing Homeownership

Has the Affordability Boost From Falling Mortgage Rates Run its Course?

By Mark Fleming on October 27, 2020
Throughout 2020, falling mortgage rates have been the strongest influence on housing affordability trends, even helping fuel the housing market’s impressive recovery and resilience to the continuing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Mortgage rates began declining in January 2020 and even dropped below 3 percent for the first time ... Read More

Interest Rates Real House Price Index Affordability

Why Housing Market Potential Remains at 13-Year High Point

By Mark Fleming on October 16, 2020
The housing market’s impressive “V-shaped” recovery has thus far shown significant resilience to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Demographically driven millennial demand has continued unabated, low rates have fueled house-buying power, and historically low inventory has increased competition, leading to rising prices. Read More

Interest Rates Potential Home Sales tenure

Myth or Reality? The Pandemic-Driven Acceleration to the Suburbs

By Odeta Kushi on October 15, 2020
Several reports indicate that the pandemic has triggered a mass flight from urban centers to the suburbs. It’s true that a move to the suburbs usually offers more space for telework and stay-at-home activities. But, as millennials have been aging into the key lifestyle decisions associated with a greater likelihood of purchasing a home (marriage ... Read More

Housing Homeownership