Affordable housing is a key component of the opportunity economy that Vice President Kamala Harris has recently outlined. She emphasized the importance of making homeownership more accessible in the U.S. during a speech in Raleigh, North Carolina. Harris proposed the construction of 3 million new housing units, both for rent and for sale, over the
Real Estate
The shareholder returns of leading homebuilders such as D.R. Horton and Lennar managed to outperform the S&P 500 from August 2014 to August 2024, which initially seems like a positive indicator. However, the recent downgrade in the investment outlook for both companies raises concerns. This points to potential underlying issues that may impact the future
In July, closed sales of previously owned homes increased by 1.3% compared to June, reaching a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 3.95 million units. This marked the first increase in five months, although sales were still 2.5% lower than the same time the previous year. The Northeast region saw the largest gains in sales, while
While mortgage rates have experienced a decline for the third consecutive week, the rush to refinance seems to have slowed down. Refinance applications dropped by 15% from the previous week, indicating a slight decline in demand. However, it is important to note that the volume of applications was 90% higher than the same time last
In the wake of the Bank of England’s first interest rate cut in four years, Britain’s biggest high street lenders have been aggressively reducing their borrowing costs. Lenders such as Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, and NatWest are now offering five-year fixed rate mortgages at rates below the BOE’s current key rate of 5%. This move has
In the month of July, inflation in the United States saw a decline, primarily driven by easing price pressures for essential consumer goods and services such as food, energy, and housing. The consumer price index (CPI), a crucial measure of inflation, recorded a 2.9% increase from the previous year. This data signifies a decrease from
The U.S. has experienced a construction boom that has had a significant impact on rental markets across the country. As a result of record-construction activity since the pandemic, the supply of empty units has increased, leading to more apartment inventory being available for renters. Multifamily units completion reached a peak in June, surpassing any other
As of the end of the first quarter of 2024, homeowners collectively hold $17 trillion in equity, with the average homeowner gaining $28,000 compared to the previous year. While this may seem like a substantial amount of money, it is essential to make wise decisions when it comes to tapping into this equity. Home equity,
Despite the U.S. economy showing remarkable strength, withstanding inflation and high interest rates, a recent survey by Affirm found that 59% of Americans believe the country is currently in a recession. This misconception is fueled by the challenges of higher costs and difficulties in making ends meet, leading many to believe that a recession started
As the presidential election approaches, voters are closely scrutinizing the personal finance policies of the candidates and their running mates. The recent announcements of Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and former President Donald Trump’s choice, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, have shed light on the economic agendas of both parties.