US Housing Market Chart Pack Higher mortgage rates denting housing market activity The steady increase in mortgage interest rates is now having a more noticeable effect on housing market activity. Mortgage applications for refinancing have more than halved since rates began rising... 11th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Dominance of first-time buyers unlikely to last Business cycles in advanced economies have been exceptionally closely aligned in recent years because of the global financial crisis, but they are likely to become less so in future. Although a global... 11th September 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Housing's support to second-half GDP unlikely to last Housing investment might continue to support GDP growth over the second half of this year, but there are still tentative signs that a day of reckoning lies around the corner, with housing likely to... 10th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Statistics (Q2) A robust year-on-year rise in gross mortgage lending during the second quarter of 2013 provides further evidence that the mortgage market is returning to life. But first-time buyers without a large... 10th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Residential Market Survey (Aug.) Another strong rise in the demand for homes, coupled with a lagging response on properties being put up for sale, has led to a rise in house prices. But the conditions for a sustainable rise in first... 10th September 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Outlook Recovery slowing to a more sustainable pace The spike in mortgage interest rates has taken a toll on housing market activity, but we don’t expect it to knock the housing recovery off course. Nevertheless, with the inventory of homes for sale... 9th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Will the housing market give consumers a boost? Past housing market upswings have all coincided with above-average rates of consumer spending growth. But it is easy to overstate the strength of the direct linkages between the two. Therefore, unless... 9th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Economics Weekly Is the recovery too reliant on the housing market? Concerns are building that the economic recovery is too reliant on an unsustainable boom in the housing market. But we think that this is giving the housing market too much credit for the turnaround... 9th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Halifax House Prices (Aug. 13) House prices rose further in August according to the Halifax, as demand for homes outstripped the number being put up for sale. But that imbalance is likely to subside gradually, which will reduce the... 6th September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Increase in first-time buyers stokes rise in house prices The region is restructuring, but not by enough to allow it to outperform the UK in the years ahead. We forecast 1.3% growth this year and 2% in 2014, matching the UK, but with longer run rates about 1... 5th September 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Aug 13.) Higher mortgage interest rates took a further toll on mortgage applications in August. But 30-year rates eased a touch at the end of the month, while applications for home purchase increased. 4th September 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response CoreLogic House Prices (Jul. 13) The latest CoreLogic house price reading added to the evidence that the pace of price gains is easing slightly. It’s possible that annual price growth will drop into the single- digit range by the end... 3rd September 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Aug.) & Mortgage Lending (Jul.) The housing market appears to be gaining traction, with a further rise in house prices and mortgage lending. But talk of a new housing boom is wide of the mark. 30th August 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update QRM proposals are a step towards looser mortgage credit The proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage rule is a welcome simplification and relaxation of earlier proposals which, if enacted, will help to loosen mortgage credit conditions. But the inclusion of... 29th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Jul. 13) House prices as measured by the Land Registry are now beginning to catch up with the main lender indices, with the strongest month-on-month rise for 1½ years. But a new house price boom still looks to... 29th August 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Recent trends in the new-build premium The new-build premium has more or less held its ground over the past year, with new homes around 15% more expensive than equivalent second-hand properties. But with new-build prices now receiving an... 29th August 2013 · 1 min read
