HOT HOUSING

February pending home sales surprised, rising 5.5% M-o-M, and are at their highest reading since 5/06, while house prices rose a strong 5.7% during the three months ending 1/17. Moreover, February new home sales were 592,000 seasonally adjusted, their second-best...

HISTORIC HOUSING

April housing starts were OK. Single-family starts were up 8.8% Y-o-Y, 7.4% YTD, and, somewhat surprisingly, have been flat since 10/16. Importantly, trends have emerged. Comparing 15Q1 – peak house size – to today, median and average house sizes are down...