Infographics

Special Report: ‘Builder Confidence’ Numbers Still Inconsistent With Construction Numbers

Builder confidence remains high while home construction continues to trod along – what gives? Builder confidence this month fell just one point, according to the latest Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders. Finishing up 2014

Bad News For Millennial Homeownership – Young American Wages are Plummeting

We all want to think that an explosion is pending in Millennial homeownership, but the numbers to justify that are hardly cooperating. The last few months, we’ve reported consistently that the big problem facing housing (as well as the

Mortgages in Boston Much More Affordable That Rents in 2014

Everyone knows that mortgages and rents have ran in opposing directions, but the numbers are still jaw-dropping. For some time, we’ve been hearing two independent narratives in housing: one, that mortgage rates and payments were at an all-time low;

Middlesex/Suffolk Counties Less Affordable Than Historic Averages

Yet another round of analysis suggests that housing affordability continues to fall by the wayside in the Boston area. As if we didn’t already have enough indicators on the housing affordability crisis here in Boston, here comes perhaps the most

Could Slowing Asking Prices in Boston Benefit its Market?

What’s the deal with asking prices in our metro area? Asking prices in the Boston area remained positive in November, though they seem to be showing signs of slowing down, according to the newly released Price Monitor from Trulia. Per Trulia’s

Boston’s 10 Top-Selling Condominiums

What condominiums in Boston saw the most sales activity in October? A couple weeks ago, we reported that the Greater Boston housing market remains a market in transition, with prices, inventories and sales up, down and around in a

Boston One of Top 10 Luxury Markets in the Nation

New data shows that the city of Boston is one of the most active luxury housing markets in the entire U.S. The city of Boston is the No. 9 luxury housing market in the U.S. in terms of sales, according to

What Income Does Your Client Need to Qualify for a Mortgage in Boston?

At the end of the day, how much income do consumers need to qualify for certain mortgages in our housing market? In our most recent analysis of housing affordability, we looked at what percentage of our housing market’s inventory

Multifamily/Single-Family Construction Post Sizable 2014 Increases

Though overall construction is mostly flat from last year, both single family and multifamily are putting up some encouraging numbers. Residential construction spending was up just 1.3 percent from September to October and 1.8 percent from Oct. 2013, rising

If Homebuilding is Flat, Why are Builders So Darn Confident?

It would appear to be a glaring contradiction in the nation’s housing market, but a bit of flip-side thinking immediately clears things up. The HMI, the NAHB’s measurement of builder confidence, rose yet again this month, jumping four points

Forget Home Sales – This is Housing’s Most Encouraging Trend

Sure, existing-home sales were up, but there was another side of NAR’s report that suggested even better things for housing. Last week, the National Association of Realtors announced that existing-home sales in October posted their first yearly increase in

Boston Defies National Trends as Middle Class Housing Affordability Rises in 2014

The term “affordability” is thrown around quite a bit, but when it concerns the middle class, the scenario is all the more interesting. The Boston housing market has offered a most pleasant surprise in 2014, with the area’s housing

Economic Concerns Persist in the U.S. – and Hold Back Housing

Though Americans feel better towards housing, wider economic concerns persist – which, in turn, affect the housing market. It’s become quite clear, in 2014, that housing’s recovery will depend in large part on wider economic trends, and that until

The Emotional Rollercoaster Buyers Experience During Their Search for “The One”

Seventy-seven percent of buyers say they’ll know immediately when they’ve found their ideal home, according to a survey of about 2,500 Americans by BMO Harris Bank. Unfortunately, the house hunting process takes time, and not all buyers exude confidence during

Boston One of Nation’s Top 10 Construction Markets

Our new construction market, according to new data, is among the nation’s best. Through September of 2014, Boston had the No. 9 new construction market in the country. According to fresh numbers from Dodge Data & Analytics, Boston’s construction starts for

How the Housing Affordability Crisis Has Led to a Surge in Roommates

The share of households featuring roommates has been on a steady rise the last few years, and the cause could not be more straightforward. Housing affordability is a common topic of coverage here at Chicago Agent, and for good reason

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