Where is data center development happening in PA? Why has it become such an attractive alternative to other well-known locations like Northern Virginia and Texas? Take a look at this interview with First American's local expert on the ground to learn more. blog.firstam.com/commercial/t...

After a delayed start, younger home buyers are gaining ground. Millennials are converting rising earnings and family formation into purchases in their 30s, reaching parity with Gen X by their early forties and poised to modestly surpass them. blog.firstam.com/economics/a-...

In this episode the #REconomy podcast, we carve up the 2025 housing market trends we’re thankful for. From easing rates & improving affordability to growing inventory & demographic tailwinds, we highlight ‘grateful 8’ reasons for housing market optimism. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Our latest analysis offers a straightforward, but informative finding—new listings are an important factor in unlocking the housing market. Markets that are closer to ’normal’ in listings are also closer to ‘normal’ in sales. More in the blog! blog.firstam.com/economics/ne...

Multifamily cap rates have been frozen at 5.7% for 7 quarters, the longest stretch of no movement in 25 years. But early indicators point to a shift in 2026. 🏘️ Thread ↓ on why cap rates may finally start to slip next year. #CRE #Multifamily

This week, I shared insights with @bloomberg.com and @reuters.com on the 2026 housing market outlook. Below is the link to my Reuters interview. In the next post, you’ll find our full 2026 outlook report. www.reuters.com/video/watch/...

“Progress without a breakout.” This, in essence, is what to expect of the housing market in 2026. In @odetak.bsky.social latest, she covers First American's housing outlook for 2026. It'll be characterized by a slow improvement in affordability via...

While a little late for Halloween, in this episode of the REconomy Podcast, we shine a light on the housing market’s scariest headlines. Listen below or on your favorite podcast platform! blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Midwestern industrial markets are resetting. After years of record demand and construction, investors are finding that less might actually be more. A quick thread on why industrial investment strategies are shifting.

Our latest analysis examines generational trends and their implications for the future of homeownership. Read the full analysis and check out the interactive visuals: blog.firstam.com/economics/fr...

Despite ongoing affordability challenges, homeownership continues to be a major vehicle for wealth accumulation over time. Even homeowners who bought at the 2006 peak have built roughly $181K in equity, according to First American Data & Analytics, outpacing what renters paid over that same period.

In this episode of the REconomy Podcast, we break down whether the commercial real estate market has reached peak distress, explaining why shifts in debt maturities, delinquency rates and sales activity across asset classes may offer a glimmer of optimism. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

In this episode of the REconomy Podcast, we break down why Fed rate cuts don’t always translate into lower mortgage rates and how today’s complex economic environment may make the housing market less rate sensitive than many believe. blog-firstam-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/blog.fir...

In part 2 of our Midwest industrial reset series, we dig into how the pandemic-era boom in mega-warehouses is now creating serious challenges for landlords and markets. If you to see what this means for specific Midwestern markets, read the full post here: blog.firstam.com/cre-insights...

Housing affordability across the nation improved by 2.3% YoY in July. Affordability improvements, however, are not uniform across the country. Check out the blog to learn more about where affordability is improving the most. blog.firstam.com/economics/af...

I spoke with Schwab Network about recent house price trends and the overall state of the new and existing home markets. Check out the segment linked below! schwabnetwork.com/video/the-bi...

Pending home sales rose 4% MoM and were up 3.8% YoY. As a forward-looking indicator, the data suggests that while buyers are re-engaging, caution remains. Improvements in mortgage rates, affordability, and inventory are helping, but not yet driving a full recovery in housing demand.

... Mark and @odetak.bsky.social compare past and present affordability - even lining up NFL divisions to see who's winning the housing game. Listen to it on your favorite podcatcher, or watch the video version right here: blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Just released Q2 2025 NMDB data reveals: - 20.4% of mortgaged homes have a rate <3% - 32.1% have a rate 3.0 - 3.99% - 17.9% have a rate 4.0 - 4.99% - 9.9% have a rate 5.0 - 5.99% - 19.7% have a rate >= 6% 80% of mortgaged homes have a rate below 6%.

Existing home sales are stuck in a slump, hovering near 4 million annually, or roughly 21% below the pre-pandemic average rate of 5.4 million. What's causing this persistent slowness?

The NFL season is back, and so is our annual housing market face-off. This year, we scanned the NFL divisions to see where first-time buyers have the best shot to move the chains toward the homeownership end zone. blog.firstam.com/economics/th...

How has the wave of new industrial supply impacted Midwestern markets, and where do the largest cities stand in the supply-demand rebalancing process ? I investigate these questions in detail in my latest X-Factor blog post, which is part one of a three-part series on Midwest industrial markets.

In June, prices declined or grew less than 1 percent annually in 27 of the 50 markets we track. While sellers may feel the pinch of waning pricing power, slower price growth—paired with rising incomes—is finally giving buyers a much-needed edge. More in the blog: blog.firstam.com/economics/af...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast, we wrap up The REconomy Summer School series by diving into the findings of a recently published multi-part research series on the rising costs of living. Listen on your favorite podcast platform! blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

In the final installment of our “cost of living” series, we explore the role of geography in housing affordability, examining how the share of cost-burdened households differ across the country. Interactive visual included in the post! blog.firstam.com/economics/ma...

We are at the beginning of a new "more normal" housing market, but this time the reasons for growth will be different. Read on to find out more! blog.firstam.com/economics/ho...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast, we continue the Summer School series with a discussion of a possible solution to the housing affordability crisis. The episode unpacks how reviving construction of “missing middle” housing can help improve affordability. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

In the week ending July 25, 2025, the seasonally adjusted purchase index declined 5.8% from the previous week but remains 17% higher than the same week last year. However, purchase mortgage applications are still 31% below the pre-COVID average.

Pending home sales dipped 0.8% in June from the prior month and were down 2.8% YoY. As a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, this suggests the housing market continues to hover near the bottom, showing little sign of renewed momentum heading into the second half of the year.

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ Summer School series we take an in-depth look at the supply side of the housing market and the challenges limiting builders’ efforts to build more homes. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Since 2019, nearly nine in 10 newly cost-burdened homeowners have been either younger adults entering the market or seniors aging in place.

In this episode of the REconomy podcast (Summer School series!), we have an in-depth discussion of the factors that drive the decision to buy a home and what that means for today’s housing market. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

I spoke with @bloomberg.com about the state of the housing market. Check out the full segment below! www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

Just released Q1 2025 NMDB data reveals: - 20.7% of mortgaged homes have a rate <3% - 32.7% have a rate 3.0 - 3.99% - 17.9% have a rate 4.0 - 4.99% - 9.9% have a rate 5.0 - 5.99% - 18.8% have a rate >= 6% 81% of mortgaged homes have a rate below 6%- that's the lowest since Q1 2016.

As more Southern and Western markets see months of supply swell, we expect some continued downward pressure on prices in these areas, offering a path to improved affordability for patient buyers. More in the blog! blog.firstam.com/economics/af...

In April, the existing-home share of total sales fell to the lowest level since 2005. In this analysis, we explain why the new home market has outperformed the existing-home market, but how headwinds may slow the momentum. blog.firstam.com/economics/in...

I spoke with Reuters this morning to discuss the recent FOMC decision and what it means for the housing market. Check out the segment in the link below! www.reuters.com/video/watch/...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast, we kick off season 2 of Summer School with an in-depth look at the foundation of housing demand – household formation. Check it out on your favorite podcast platform! blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Housing starts have plummeted to their lowest level since 2020. The MoM decline is primarily due to a decline in the volatile MF groundbreaking. SF starts were flat compared to April but down 7.3% compared to last year. A decline in SF building permits points to a weaker trend moving forward.

While today’s homeownership costs as a share of income aren’t without historical precedent, the pace and scope of recent increases suggest the dream of homeownership is becoming harder to attain and sustain. Lots more information and interactive data in the blog. blog.firstam.com/economics/un...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast, we examine growing concerns regarding the health of the housing market, finding that distress is rising and prices are declining in some markets, but the broader fundamentals underpinning housing remain strong. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Market divergence in house price trends is below historical averages, but the differences reinforce that affordability trends can vary significantly across markets. Read more in the blog. blog.firstam.com/economics/af...

There is a strong relationship between the median length of time that people stay in their home, known as tenure, and sales activity. Historically, the median tenure length in the U.S. has been six years, but today it’s reached a historic high of nearly nine years. blog.firstam.com/economics/pe...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast, we commemorate National Homeownership Month with a deep dive into the state of homeownership, including how it’s measured, the demographics of homeownership and what the future holds for prospective buyers. blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Cap rates for most asset classes have stabilized, with multifamily cap rates hovering at around 5.7 percent after peaking in early 2024. While I think cap rates may trade sideways for some time for most asset classes - longer than people may be expecting - the shortage of housing...

In this episode of The REconomy Podcast from First American, we examine the wave of retailers going out of business and how their abandoned retail space may impact retail leasing dynamics across the country. Listen on your favorite podcast platform! blog.firstam.com/reconomy-pod...

Affordability discussions have typically focused on rates, income, and house prices. Nowadays, homeowners insurance premiums must also be considered. This week's analysis examines the causes of rising insurance premiums and identifies the impacted areas. blog.firstam.com/economics/so...

House prices have dipped below their respective peaks in 47 of the top 50 markets we track. Changes in house prices matter because house prices, along with mortgage rates and income, are a key component of housing affordability. More in the blog. blog.firstam.com/economics/af...

Yesterday, @odetak.bsky.social and I hosted a webinar on the challenges and opportunities that this new, although nascent, CRE cycle will pose. We always like asking a handful of questions from the audience, as it's an opportunity to get a live read of the market.

Pending home sales jumped 6.1% in March, as interest rate-sensitive buyers seized the opportunity presented by a 20 basis point dip in rates. Higher inventory levels also offered buyers more choices.