The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) increased 0.3% to a reading of 96.6 in August.
News in end use
Late-Summer Homebuying Slowdown Brings Additional Options to Potential Buyers
Zillow data shows that sellers listed nearly 350,000 homes for sale across the US in August, approximately 4% more than in July.
Asking Rents Remained High in August, but Some Landlords Are Now Offering Concessions
Redfin reported that the median US asking rent was $2,052 in August, just $2 below the record high set a year earlier. The median rent is up 0.7% from July.
NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Declines in August
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.6 points to a reading of 91.3 in August.
New US Single-Family Spec Home Lot Sizes Continued to Shrink in 2022
42% of new single-family detached homes sold in 2022 were built on lots under 7,000 square feet (less than 0.16 of an acre), according to the Census Bureau and NAHB.
Canada and Ontario Investing in Affordable Housing Units
Canada, Ontario, and the regional Municipality of Halton have announced over $45 million (CAD) in funding to construct 52 affordable housing units in Oakville, Ontario.
Acquisition, Development, and Construction Loan Volumes Decline in Q2
Rising interest rates and tightening financial conditions contributed to a decline in the volume AD&C loans during Q2, the National Association of Home Builders reported.
Canadian Employment Increases in August
Employment throughout Canada increased by 40,000, or 0.2%, in August, following little change in July. Since January, employment has increased by 174,000, or 0.9%.
Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index Unchanged for August
The Index remained effectively unchanged in August, as consumer confidence towards housing continued along the low-level set earlier in the year.
Canadian Building Permits Decline in July
The total monthly value of building permits in Canada declined 1.5% to $11.7 billion in July. The value of residential permits increased 5.4% to $7.4 billion.