The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee held the federal funds rate constant at a top target of 5.5% at the conclusion of its January meeting. The Fed will continue to reduce its balance sheet holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities as part of quantitative tightening and balance sheet normalization. Marking a fourth consecutive meeting holding the federal funds rate constant,… Read More ›

IBS Attendees hoping to advance their knowledge of design will have ample opportunities to do so.  From novice to advanced, the education opportunities available with an Expo+Education Pass gives every level of expertise the upper hand. The speakers are knowledgeable and will provide niche-specific solutions.  Design offerings include: SUPER SESSION: The Blueprint: The Battle Royale & 60 in 60 Inspire Your Designs for 2024 10 Common Floor Plan Design Mistakes & How to Fix Them 20 Elevation Styles to Have…

The Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) reported the U.S. homeownership rate declined to 65.7% in the last quarter of 2023, amid persistently tight housing supply and elevated mortgage interest rates. This is 0.3 percentage points lower from the third quarter reading (66%). Compared to the peak of 69.2% in 2004, the homeownership rate is 3.5 percentage points lower and… Read More ›

Due to tightened monetary policy, the count of total job openings for the entire economy has trended lower in recent months. This is consistent with a cooling economy that is a positive sign for future inflation readings. However, the December data showed an uptick due to stronger than expected GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2023. In December, the… Read More ›

Builders have been including decks on fewer and fewer new homes recently.  According to NAHB tabulation of data from the HUD/Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC), well over 20% of all single-family homes started had decks from 2005 through 2018—as many as 27% in 2007 and 2008.  After 2017, however, the share started to drop year-after-year, reaching a low of 17.5% in 2021.  In 2022, the share increased, but just barely, to 17.7%. This happened while, as shown in an October post, the…

“Located in Winter Park, Florida, this beautiful home is designed and constructed just right ot take advantage of the lakefront property on which it is situated.  Breathtaking interiors are further enhanced by the serene views.  The interiors are elegant and exquisitely detailed.  The floor plan lends itself to entertaining both indoors and out.” – 2011 BALA judges Architect: Phil Kean Designs, Inc. Builder: Phil Keans Designs, Inc. Interior Designer: CRT Studio, Inc. Interior Merchandiser: CRT Studio, Inc. Photographer: Harvey Smith…

NAHB analysis of the most recent Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing report reveals that the all-cash purchases accounted for 8.4% of new home sales in 2023—a 1.3 percentage point decline over the year but still the second-highest share since 1991.  In contrast, the share of new home sales backed by VA loans fell to a 16-year low of 4.8% in 2023… Read More ›

The modern timber home design flows perfectly with the slope of the lot, which looks out across the valley below. The main level uses the covered deck as a natural extension of the rest of the layout. The main roofline extends out past the deck, further blending the indoor and outdoor areas. The deck is accessible from an accordion door next to the dining room, doors from the living room, and another door from the primary suite. The primary bedroom…

Falling interest rates in the closing weeks of 2023 helped to bring buyers off the sidelines and provide a boost for new home sales. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in December increased 8.0% to a 664,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from an upwardly revised reading in November, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and… Read More ›

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong pace in the fourth quarter, mainly fueled by resilient consumer spending. However, the fourth quarter data from the GDP report suggests that inflation is cooling. The GDP price index rose 1.5% for the fourth quarter, down from a 3.3% increase in the third quarter. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, which… Read More ›