US Housing Market Focus New mortgage rules won't hamper housing recovery The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s ability-to-repay rule, and within that its definition of a qualified mortgage, will not hamper the housing recovery. Mortgage-dependent buyers aren’t playing... 16th January 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response CoreLogic House Prices (Nov. 12) House prices rose again in November, both before and after applying seasonal adjustment. Consistent price increases throughout 2012 have started the process of lifting households out of negative... 15th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Housing Market Survey (Dec. 12) The December RICS survey provided further evidence that the housing market strengthened towards the end of 2012. But it also suggested that the boost to lending activity from the FLS may be faltering. 15th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Outlook Little prospect of a housing market recovery in 2013 While house prices held up better than we expected towards the end of last year, the market’s underlying fundamentals remain unfavourable. Therefore, we have not made major adjustments to our housing... 14th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Positive end to 2012, but 2013 will bring further price falls The Funding for Lending Scheme has helped to ease conditions in the mortgage market somewhat, leading to a marginal improvement in housing market activity. But we expect unemployment to start to rise... 11th January 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Chart Pack Downward trend in housing investment will persist Housing starts continued to ease during the fourth quarter of last year, to an annualised 202,855, from 221,709 in the prior quarter. Nevertheless, it is possible that overall residential investment... 10th January 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Fiscal cliff deal extends Mortgage Debt Relief Act The 11th hour deal to avert the fiscal cliff included a one-year extension of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act. The Act, which frees homeowners from paying tax on forgiven mortgage principal, has become... 10th January 2013 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Hopes abound for an unlikely housing soft landing The sharp slowdown in existing home sales is grim news for the new housing industry, which continues to build above population requirements. We expect these growing demand and supply imbalances to... 9th January 2013 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Stirring property sector reawakens over-investment fears Property construction in China still needs to slow further to return the real estate sector to a sustainable path. Accordingly, the recent pick-up in investment by developers should not be welcomed... 9th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Halifax House Prices (Dec. 12) Another increase in house prices during December suggests that the underlying trend in the housing market is improving. But with 2013 likely to bring further headwinds to housing demand, we doubt this... 7th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lending (Nov. 12) Mortgage approvals for house purchase increased for the fifth month in a row in November, but the pace of improvement is showing signs of slowing down. 4th January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Dec.) Today’s data from the Nationwide showed that house prices fell by 1% over 2012. With another challenging year for the economy ahead, further falls are likely. 3rd January 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Dec.) The rise in home purchase mortgage applications in December took the run of increases to four months. Admittedly, they remain low by past standards. But at least these data add to the growing sense... 2nd January 2013 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Nov.) Alongside other house price data, today’s Land Registry figures showed that house prices increased marginally towards the end of 2012. But with 2013 set to be another challenging year for the economy... 2nd January 2013 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Nov. 12) Another strong gain took existing home sales above the five million mark, and to a three-year high, in November. Moreover, supply conditions tightened further and are consistent with house prices... 20th December 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Will the pent-up demand for housing be unleashed soon? The latest survey on household finances from the Bank of England paints a fairly bleak picture of potential first-time buyers’ finances. And with the average deposit required by lenders still... 20th December 2012 · 1 min read
