Tag Archives: Confidence

According to Redfin's latest Real-Time Seller Survey, 81 percent of sellers believe home prices will rise in their area over the next year, up from 75 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. While the increase in seller confidence should translate to increased inventory, the results have yet to be seen. According to the survey, 49 percent of respondents indicated they were planning to sell, up from 45 percent in last quarter's survey. However, the percentage of respondents who indicated they were selling "right now" fell by nearly half.

Economic activity "expanded" in the closing weeks of 2012, the Federal Reserve said in its periodic Beige Book released Wednesday, reflecting a slow but steadily declining unemployment rate and low rates of inflation--conditions the Fed said would have to be met before it raises interest rates. According to the report, "real estate activity has expanded or held steady in 11 Districts for existing home sales and leasing; eight Districts for residential construction; 11 Districts for nonresidential sales and leasing; and nine Districts for nonresidential construction."

Builder confidence stalled in January as the Housing Market Index (HMI) stood at 47, remaining at its highest level since April 2006, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported Wednesday. Economists had expected the index to tick up to 48. With the January report, the index remained below 50--the tipping point between a positive and negative market assessment--for the 81st straight month. The last time the HMI was above 50 was April 2006, when the reading was 51 and falling.

December saw mixed signals in terms of housing demand, according to Redfin's latest Real-Time Demand Pulse.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance rose 10,000 to 372,000 for the week ending December 29, the third-lowest level of the year, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists expected claims to increase to 363,000. The previous week's report was revised upward to 362,000 from the originally reported 350,000, an unusually large revision but reflective of intervening holidays, during which state processing offices were closed.

A survey of economists conducted by Pulsenomics and published by Zillow shows high hopes for home prices in 2013 and beyond.

Builder confidence continued to improve in December as the Housing Market Index (HMI) rose two points to 47--its highest level since April 2006--the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported Tuesday. It was the eighth straight monthly increase in the index and matched economist expectations. Two of the three components of the index improved--the measures of current sales and buyer traffic--while the gauge of sales six months out slipped one point from the revised November reading of 52 (down from the original 53).

The desire for homeownership is still strong in young renters, according to a survey released by Trulia.

A recently released Home Value Forecast from Pro Teck and Collateral Analytics posits that consumer expectations of price trends can actually keep them going and even add to their momentum. Pro Teck CEO Tom O'Grady says that as home buyers perceive prices are rising or falling, they behave in a way that actually encourages the trend. For example, rising prices "also increase net worth and encourage those buyers who have been sitting on the fence to purchase," increasing turnover rates and reinforcing more price gains.

A preliminary report from Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan shows consumer confidence took a major hit to start December. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to 74.5, a substantial drop from November's promising 82.7. The median forecast from economists polled by Reuters was 82.4. Richard Curtin, chief economist for the survey, said the decline stems from worries over Washington's apparent lack of progress in fiscal cliff negotiations.