REconomy Podcast: Should you rent or buy a home?

By FirstAm Editor on August 12, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the question all potential first-time home buyers must answer, whether to rent or to buy, and explain how it’s possible for a home to pay you to live in it. Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy Settlement

REconomy Podcast: What’s Driving the Shift in the Housing Market Today, Supply or Demand?

By FirstAm Editor on July 23, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the supply and demand dynamic in the housing market to explain why home sales are declining. Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: What Will the End of the Foreclosure Moratorium Mean for the Housing Market?

By FirstAm Editor on July 8, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the end of the foreclosure moratorium later this month is unlikely to trigger a tsunami of foreclosures. Read More

Housing Insurable Interest Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: Will Rising Mortgage Rates Slow the Housing Market?

By FirstAm Editor on June 24, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain the economic concept of demand elasticity and why housing market demand tends to be inelastic in response to rising mortgage rates. Read More

Housing Interest Rates Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: Breaking Down the Limits of the Wealth Effect in Today’s Housing Market

By FirstAm Editor on May 13, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi unpack the ‘wealth effect’ economic theory and explain why, despite soaring house prices, the wealth effect’s influence on the housing market may be limited. Read More

Housing Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: Is the Housing Market Heading for a Crash?

By FirstAm Editor on April 29, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why today’s housing market is unlike the housing market that preceded the Great Recession and why we’re unlikely to see a housing market crash anytime soon. Read More

Housing Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: What Drives the Decision to Become a Homeowner?

By FirstAm Editor on April 15, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain how the vast majority of potential home buyers reach the decision to buy a home and what that means for the housing market and homeownership rate moving forward. Read More

Housing Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: Why Housing Affordability Should Be Viewed Through the Lens of Renters and Supply

By FirstAm Editor on April 1, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the key to measuring housing affordability is to determine whether a renter can afford to purchase a home, or more precisely how many homes they can afford to buy, if any. Read More

Housing Affordability REconomy

REconomy Podcast: Is the speed of sales sending mixed signals about housing inventory?

By FirstAm Editor on March 18, 2021

In this episode of the REconomy podcast from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the housing market’s supply shortage ahead of the spring home-buying season and explain how the annual pace of home sales can be rising when there are so few homes for sale. Read More

Housing Affordability REconomy