US Housing Market Update How vulnerable are house prices to a rise in rates? Our forecast for mortgage rates to rise to 4.2% by end-2023 will help slow house price gains, but we don’t think that increase will be enough to cause an outright fall in values. And with homes not... 26th August 2021 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Robust demand and limited stock to support prices The housing market cooled in July as the stamp duty holiday began to unwind. Newly agreed sales and buyer enquiries dropped back, annual house price growth began to stabilise, and transactions fell... 25th August 2021 · 8 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Jul.) After a run of declines, new home sales eked out a small gain in July. The recent weakness in sales data likely reflects homebuilders restricting sales as they try to catch-up with the surge in demand... 24th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Jul) Existing home sales surprised on the upside in July, rising for the second consecutive month. But with demand easing and inventory at record lows, we doubt this is the start of a resurgence. Instead... 23rd August 2021 · 2 mins read
Canada Data Response Teranet House Prices (Jul.) The Teranet measure of house price inflation accelerated to a 32-year high in July and is on track to pick up further in August. That should mark the peak but, with the sales-to-new listing ratio... 19th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing End of eviction ban won’t stop recovery in rents The eviction ban has been extended to early October, but we doubt it will be renewed again. Given the strength of the labour market, significant government support and robust rental demand, the... 19th August 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Jul.) Single-family starts edged back in July, although they but remain elevated compared to pre-COVID levels. Shortages in lots, labour and materials are weighing on builder confidence and housing starts... 18th August 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update Are PDRs the answer to mis-matches in supply? New plans have extended Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) on commercial property, allowing swifter conversion to residential use. These have been cautiously welcomed, but, in our view, they do not... 18th August 2021 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update What if we are wrong about interest rates? While the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) became more hawkish at its August meeting, an increase in interest rates on the scale it expects would not undermine house prices. But more stubborn inflation... 16th August 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Focus The last house price boom? The housing market is highly cyclical, and the current price boom marks the fifth episode since 1970 where real house price growth has exceeded 5% y/y. But there are good reasons to think this will... 12th August 2021 · 19 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Residential Market Survey (Jul.) Despite new buyer enquiries dropping back in July, house prices continued to rise as buyers competed for limited stock. 12th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing Home sales and house prices to moderate The share of households seeing now as a good time to buy a home has fallen to 39-years lows, as booming house prices, tight credit conditions and record low inventory have weighed on sentiment. But... 11th August 2021 · 9 mins read
Canada Economics Exports heating up as housing cools There was more evidence that the housing market is cooling this week, with home sales slipping to 12-month lows in seasonally adjusted terms in both Toronto and Vancouver. The good news, however, is... 6th August 2021 · 4 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response Halifax House Prices (Jul.) Halifax house prices returned to growth on a monthly last month, partly reversing a weak June figure. But the underlying trend, as the stamp duty discount is phased out, is for a modest slowdown... 6th August 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Commercial Property Data Response IHS Markit/CIPS Construction PMI (Jul.) July’s construction PMI figure was slightly disappointing compared with the previous month’s highs. But it continued to point to robust activity and we think any dip is most likely a reflection of... 5th August 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing Mortgage Applications (Jul.) The recent decline in mortgage rates buoyed refinancing activity in July, but didn’t prevent another month of declining home purchase activity. While market conditions are tight, there are still... 4th August 2021 · 2 mins read