Residential Construction Finds Footing in December

What goes down must come up? Definitely not always the case, but true this time for residential construction numbers. The Census Bureau’s latest report showed a rebound in December, with both housing starts and building permits moving higher after softer readings in prior months. Privately owned hou

Higher Refi Demand Buoys Mortgage Apps as Rates Hit Lows

Mortgage application activity picked up last week with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reporting an increase of 2.8% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending February 13. Refi applications were in the driver's seat, and although it was hardly a "jump", the Refinance Index did increa

Builder Confidence Remains Subdued

Builder confidence fell for the second straight month in February according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Affordability pressures and elevated construction costs continued to hamper already gloomy sentiment. While the move was modest in o

Do You Need a Realtor to Sell Your House? Pros and Cons Explained

If you’re thinking about selling your home, one of the first questions you might ask is: do I need a real estate agent? The short answer is no — you can sell on your own. That said, it also means handling pricing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork yourself. For many sellers, working with a real