News in covid 19

According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s annual inflation rate fell by 0.2% in April, moving into negative territory for the first-time since 2009.

The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending May 21st, 2020 shows that 30-year fixed-mortgage rate averaged 3.24% percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.28%.

The Oregon Supreme Court has halted a Baker County Circuit Court judge’s ruling nullifying Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown’s COVID-19 stay at home order.

According to a report from Redfin, pageviews of homes in small towns surged 105% year-over-year for the seven-day period ending May 1st.

The initial drop in real estate showing activity experienced throughout much of the U.S. in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic has given way to signs of modestly stabilizing.

The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000.

According to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, builders confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes increased to 7 points to a reading of 37.

With many consumers sheltering in place last month and only leaving their homes only to purchase essential goods and services, retail sales declined 16.4% in April.

Americans view homeownership as something of great value. And the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for many Americans to shelter in place, has helped that feeling to grow even stronger.

Canadian home sales and national home listings fell 56.8% in April, when compared to the previous month.