Spring break is fast approaching, that playful time of year when beach cities are inundated with college students and tourists. As housing economists, spring break is exciting because it coincides with the beginning of the spring home buying season! While we may not seem to have much in common with the college crowd, there is an underlying ...
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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 ...
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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.
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No matter your life stage, ‘tis the season to pack up your stuff and head home for the holidays. Home is where we congregate with family and friends over a hot meal, catch up on events, and maybe even ring in the New Year. But, home does not look the same for all. In fact, “home” doesn’t have to be the white picket fence with the smoking chimney ...
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It’s that time of year again. The time when we come together and celebrate the American tradition of giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Often we give thanks for having the basic necessities of life: food, health, water and shelter. While all of these things are vital to human existence, as a housing economist, I naturally tend to ...
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We’ve posted the annual First American Homeownership Progress Index (HPRI), which measures the level of homeownership and the underlying demographic and economic factors that influence the probability of homeownership over time and geography based on IPUMS Census Data. The HPRI declined 1.8 percent year-over-year, and is down 7.6 percent from the ...
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