18.8% of all new single-family homes started in 2023 were custom homes, down from 20.4% in 2022, the Census Bureau and NAHB reported.
News in end use
Commercial and Multifamily Mortgage Debt Outstanding Increases Modestly in Q2
The level of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding increased $31.4 billion, or 0.7%, in Q2, MBA reported.
Fannie Mae ESR Group Forecasts Existing-Home Sales in 2024 to Be at Slowest Pace Since 1995
Existing-home sales are not expected to pick up meaningfully through the remainder of 2024, the Fannie Mae ESR Group reported.
US Existing-Home Sales Slip 2.5% in August
Total existing-home sales declined 2.5% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.86 million, NAR reported.
US Fixed-Rate Mortgages Continue to Decline in the Week Ending September 19th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.09%, down from last week when it averaged 6.20%, Freddie Mac reported.
The Conference Board US Leading Economic Index Trends Lower in August
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® fell 0.2% in August to a reading of 100.2 (2016=100), following an unrevised decline of 0.6% in July.
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending September 14th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 219,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised level.
Canadians Receiving Regular Employment Insurance Increases 2.2% in July
The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits totaled 489,000 in July, up 2.2%, or 11,000, from a month earlier.
US Housing Starts, Building Permits, and Completions Climb in August
Housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,356,000. This is 9.6% above the revised July estimate and 3.9% above the August 2023 rate.
Federal Reserve Announces 0.5% Rate Cut, The First Since March 2020
In light of the progress on inflation and the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 0.50% to 4.75–5.00%.