Why the Yield Curve May Have Fooled Some Experts

By Mark Fleming on April 5, 2019
April Fools’ may be over, but that hasn’t dampened recession fears from generating headlines. Broadly speaking, the U.S. economy is performing well. Wages are increasing and we’re near full employment. So, why are some experts raising recession concerns? Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve

Why The Stage Is Set For A Stronger Spring Home-Buying Season

By Mark Fleming on March 21, 2019
In February 2019, the housing market continued to underperform its potential, but showed signs of promise leading into the spring home-buying season. Actual existing-home sales are 2.5 percent below the market’s potential, according to our Potential Home Sales model. That means the market has the potential to support 127,000 more home sales at a ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Homeownership Potential Home Sales

Six More Months of Housing Winter or Early Spring Home-Buying Season?

By Mark Fleming on February 20, 2019
In the first month of the new year, the housing market continued to underperform its potential, but gave us signs of promise for the future. Actual existing-home sales are 5.3 percent below the market’s potential, according to our Potential Home Sales model. That means the market has the potential to support 293,000 more home sales than the ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Homeownership Potential Home Sales

Can Stock Market Volatility Help Home Buyers?

By Mark Fleming on January 21, 2019
In December, the market potential for existing-home sales in December increased 1.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 6.15 million compared with a year ago, but the housing market still underperformed its potential by 9.6 percent, according to our Potential Homes Sales Model. Month over month, the gap between actual existing-home ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Homeownership Potential Home Sales

What Do Previous Rising Mortgage Rate Eras Tell Us About Today's Housing Market?

By Mark Fleming on December 17, 2018
In November, the housing market underperformed its potential by 7.4 percent, marking 40 straight months the market remained below its potential, according to our Potential Homes Sales Model. Month over month, the gap between actual existing-home sales and the market potential for home sales narrowed by 1.2 percent, but the housing market still has ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Homeownership Potential Home Sales

Do Rising Rates Outweigh the Impact of the Strong Economy on Housing Market Potential?

By Mark Fleming on November 19, 2018
While the housing market continues to underperform its potential by 6.5 percent, the gap between actual existing home sales and the market potential for home sales narrowed by 1 percent in October compared with September, according to our Potential Homes Sales model. The housing market has the potential to support more than 391,000 additional home ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Homeownership Potential Home Sales