US Housing Market Data Response Case-Shiller/FHFA House Prices (Apr.) House price growth gathered pace in April, with the annual growth rate hitting record highs on both the Case-Shiller and FHFA measures. But despite the pick-up in house price expectations, we don’t... 29th June 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lending (May) The tick up in mortgage approvals for house purchase in May left them 33% above pre-virus norms, and timely indicators suggest that mortgage lending will remain robust despite the looming end of the... 29th June 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Jun.) House prices recorded a fifth consecutive monthly rise in June, the final month before the stamp duty threshold begins to return to its usual level. There are few signs of market dynamics changing... 29th June 2021 · 2 mins read
US Commercial Property Update Student accommodation not set to see a rapid rebound The student accommodation sector faces high levels of uncertainty for the fall 2021 academic year. In our view, demand for student housing will rebound from last year, but fall short of its pre... 25th June 2021 · 3 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Will soaring materials costs slow housebuilding? Inflation in the cost of construction materials has soared as resurgent new home development led to strong demand at the same time as supply was still recovering from disruption due to the pandemic... 24th June 2021 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update New Zealand - Lasting decline in saving rate would be an upside risk The surge in consumption in Q1 resulted in the savings rate falling to a 15-year low. While we expect households to respond to falling house prices with higher savings, the rebound in GDP could be... 24th June 2021 · 3 mins read
Commodities Update Timberrrrrrrr... Although we remain optimistic about the near-term demand outlook, we think that the price of US lumber will fall further in the coming months as domestic supply continues to revive. 23rd June 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (May) While new home sales declined in May, data for homes that are yet to start construction were stronger, as elevated construction costs caused homebuilders to delay projects. But with falling lumber... 23rd June 2021 · 2 mins read
US Housing Market Update Valuations still reasonable despite house price boom The housing market hit a milestone in April, with real house prices rising above the previous peak recorded during the boom of the mid-2000s. But that doesn’t mean valuations are at dangerous levels... 22nd June 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (May) Record low inventory is weighing on housing market activity, with existing home sales falling to an 11-month low in May. And with booming house prices and rising mortgage rates set to stretch... 22nd June 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Movers drive up sales to highest level since 2007 The housing market has had its busiest start to the year for 14 years as changing preferences due to the pandemic, forced saving, low mortgage rates, and the stamp duty holiday have led swathes of... 17th June 2021 · 8 mins read
US Housing Market Update Surge in home equity won’t trigger credit easing The home equity share has surged to a 31-year high, which in the past may have persuaded mortgage lenders to ease credit conditions. But Ability to Repay regulations brought in after the financial... 17th June 2021 · 3 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly Hajj limited again, Iran election, Dubai property The Saudi government’s confirmation that the Hajj pilgrimage will be extremely limited this year will weigh on the Kingdom’s economic recovery. Elsewhere, the likely victory for hardliner Ebrahim... 17th June 2021 · 6 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (May.) Single-family starts edged higher in May but have been broadly flat since the start of the year. While worsening affordability is now weighing on the demand for homes, record low inventory and falling... 16th June 2021 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Should we be worried about rental arrears? The early evidence suggests that the end of the evictions moratorium will not result in a huge wave of evictions. And while the end of the furlough scheme presents a risk, we suspect that the easing... 11th June 2021 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Update What’s driving the surge in rent expectations? Consumer expectations of rental growth have surged to record highs over the past couple of months. But that appears to reflect optimism around the housing market in general, rather than the rental... 10th June 2021 · 3 mins read