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’s proprietary Real House Price Index (RHPI) looks at December 2016 data and includes analysis from First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming on the decline in affordability as consumer house-buying power dipped due to rising rates. Read More ›

We’ve posted the January First American Loan Application Defect Index, which estimates the frequency of defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications. The Defect Index increased 5.8 percent in January 2017 as compared with the previous month, and decreased 3.9 percent as compared to January ... 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 ›

First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming is interviewed on Money Matters Radio in Boston and shares his perspective on the connection between marriage, declining homeownership rates, and Millennial home buying. 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 ›