U.S. house prices rose in the first quarter of 2020, up 1.7%.
News in end use
New Home Sales Modestly Rise in April
Sales of new single-family homes in April 2020 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 623,000, 0.6% above the revised March rate.
9% of all U.S. Mortgages in COVID-19 Forbearance
According to the data from latest McDash Flash Forbearance tracker, approximately 9% of all mortgages are in forbearance.
Canadian Retail Sales Decline a Record 10% in March
Statistics Canada is reporting that Canadian retail sales plunged 10% in March. The result of officials shuttering non-essential business to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Four Straight Years of Decline Median Single-Family Size Increases in First Quarter of 2020
Over the past several years builders have been trying to construct more affordable – entry-level homes. In order to do that the size of the average starter home has been shrunk.
Townhouse Construction Flat in First Quarter of 2020
A closer look into the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design finds that townhouse construction, in the first quarter of 2020, was flat on a year-over-year basis.
Single-Family Homes Built-for-Rent Post Modest Gains in First Quarter of 2020
A deeper dive into the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design reveals a bright spot in the number of single-family homes built-for-rent.
Developers and Builders of Multifamily Housing Units Confidence Drop in First Quarter of 2020
According to the NAHB Multifamily Market Survey, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, multifamily builders and developers confidence in their markets softened substantially in the first quarter of 2020.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey Reports that Sales Remain Slow but Steady
Many dealers are reporting that in spite of a poor U.S. Housing Starts and Permits report for April, their sales remain slow but steady and showing some very small signs of improvement.
Weekly Jobless Claims Rise Another 2.438 Million for Week Ending May 16th
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 2.438 million Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, May 16th.