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.

Existing-Home Sales Capacity Decreases 0.4 Percent in July — Market Capacity Nears Equilibrium

By Mark Fleming on August 19, 2015
First American’s proprietary Existing-Home Sales Capacity (EHS-C) model provides a gauge on whether existing-homes sales are under capacity or over capacity based on current market fundamentals. For the month of July, the EHS-C seasonally adjusted, annual rate of sales decreased by 23,000, a decreased of 0.4 percent compared to June and a decrease ... Read More

Housing

Is the American Dream an American Reality?

By Odeta Kushi on August 10, 2015
For young people throughout the 20th century, as well as Millennials today, becoming a homeowner has been a symbolic representation of achieving the American Dream. At a time when many claim that this dream is at greater risk for Millennials than it was for preceding generations, it is important to investigate whether this fear has a basis in ... Read More

Millennials Education

I, House: The Complexity and Far-Reaching Benefits of Homeownership

By Mark Fleming on August 4, 2015
A recent release from the American Enterprise Institute harkened back to Milton Friedman’s discussion of the now famous I, Pencil essay by Leonard Read. In short, I, Pencil tells the story of a pencil and the multitude of factors that go into its assembly. Where does the wood come from? How is it transported? What goes into the production of the ... Read More

Anything But Normal Is The New Normal - Risk Intelligence Forum

By Mark Fleming on July 31, 2015
Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the First American Risk Intelligence Forum in Nashville, Tennessee. It was my first visit to Nashville and it did not disappoint. The tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the dinner and country music at City Winery were fabulous. Read More

Loan Application Defect Index

How low have the mighty fallen? Comparing housing market recession and recovery.

By Odeta Kushi on July 28, 2015
Not all housing markets are the same, particularly in their path to recovery since the housing market bubble popped almost a decade ago. Measuring the severity and duration of collapse by market and the amount of price recovery to date reinforces that not all housing market recoveries are created equal. Some markets are already better off than ... Read More

Real House Price Index

Introducing the First American Loan Application Defect Index

By FirstAm Editor on July 23, 2015
Five-years ago this week, Dodd-Frank was signed into law, ushering in a new era in mortgage lending. While the merits of the bill are still being weighed, mortgage originators and title and settlement service providers are grappling with the implementation of one component of Dodd-Frank – TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID). TRID is part of a ... Read More

Loan Application Defect Index