Zelman Insights

What a Democratic Sweep Could Mean For Housing?

October 29, 2020 by Ivy Zelman

As we enter the final days prior to the election, I can’t help ponder what the outcome of a Democratic sweep could mean for housing and our country, which appears to be a real potential outcome. To stay away from my political views, I’ll focus on what a sweep would mean specifically for the housing market...

Filed Under
existing home sales homebuilding household formation macro housing mortgage new home sales

Home Price Increases Starting to Overcome Low Mortgage Rate Benefit

October 21, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

In 2019, the median and average new home cost $321,500 and $383,900, according to the Census Bureau. However, with almost 95% of purchases financed with a mortgage, it is not the total cost, but rather the monthly payment...

Filed Under
affordability home pricing macro housing mortgage rates survey

Home Improvements Among Pandemic Spending Winners – Can It Sustain?

August 11, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

In 2019, growth in consumer expenditures was solid, increasing 4% from 2018, a trend that continued into January and February of this year with consistency across spending avenues. However, the pandemic upended consumer habits and priorities...

Filed Under
home improvement macro housing

Pandemic or Inventory – What is Driving Relative Strength in New Home Sales?

July 16, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

In so many ways, COVID-19 has altered the way one might describe their home – a place to shelter, their office, a school room, a safe haven, and more. With that has come many opinions and surveys about how consumers are thinking about owning versus renting, urban locations versus the suburbs or expensive job centers versus...

Filed Under
existing home sales new home sales survey

Unemployment Not a Problem in For-Sale Market - Too Good To Be True?

June 19, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

As we recently explored in our Unemployment and Housing report, contrary to perception, spiking unemployment of late has cast a wide net, reaching across ages and income cohorts. While the traditional overhang...

Filed Under
demographics macro housing

Will Declining Marriage Rates Pressure Single-Family Housing Demand?

May 18, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

Earlier this month, the latest data for marriage rates were released, and the lowest national propensity in over 150 years drew some startling headlines across the media. Inability to afford marriage and young ...

Filed Under
demographics

What Might Plunge in Multi-Family Operator Sentiment Mean?

April 23, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

Like most businesses, multi-family operators and developers are navigating unprecedented conditions resulting from COVID-19, led by uncertainty related to rent collections, spiking unemployment, capital availability ...

Filed Under
apartments survey

Strong Aggregate Jobs Numbers as Housing Read-Throughs Stay Positive

February 21, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

Following December’s shortfall to headline expectations, the January employment report rebounded favorably on an overall basis and factors most influential to housing remained positive. Notably ...

Filed Under
macro housing

Media Analyses of State Population Trends Biased to Fit Convenient Narrative?

January 24, 2020 by Zelman & Associates

Many factors influence where people live, including where they were raised, employment opportunities, housing affordability, quality of life, weather and more. Lately, most media headlines seem to be isolating tax reform ...

Filed Under
demographics

California a Notable Drag on Birth Data Last Year

December 13, 2019 by Zelman & Associates

Earlier this year, preliminary 2018 birth data was released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which revealed that total births declined 1.7% year over year, slightly better than a 2.3% decline in 2017, but ...

Filed Under
demographics