Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell less than expected in August and could regain momentum in the months ahead as declining mortgage rates and house prices stimulate demand.The report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday also showed new home sales were higher than previously estimated in the prior three months. The Federal Reserve last week cut interest rates by 50 basis points to the 4.75%-5.00% range, the first reduction in borrow
A modest improvement in housing affordability may motivate more home buyers to make a move. Read more from NAR’s latest housing report.Pending home sales rose slightly in August as lower mortgage rates provided some motivation to prospective home buyers. But buyers continue to face challenges such as high home prices, and many may be holding out for even lower rates, surveys show.The National Association of REALTORS®’ Pending Home Sales Ind
Consumers’ view on the economy tumbled in September, falling by the largest level in more than three years as fears grew about jobs and business conditions, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.The board’s consumer confidence index slid to 98.7, down from 105.6 in August, the biggest one-month decline since August 2021. The Dow Jones consensus forecast was for a reading of 104. By contrast, the index had a reading of 132.6 in Febru
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July Economic growth rebounded a little last month in the U.S., according to a monthly index set out Monday, though the broader trend remains weak amid high borrowing costs and political uncertainty.The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said. A reading above zero is associa
Security is often a top concern for buyers. Advise your customers on the top options for cameras and doorbells.Home security technology has made incredible advancements over the last decade, bringing enhanced safety, convenience and peace of mind to homeowners. At the heart of these innovations are cameras and smart doorbells that provide real-time surveillance, motion detection, package tracking and seamless integration with other smart hom
Lighter colors can certainly add a clean, fresh and bright look to interiors, but in a few spots in the home, homeowners are wanting to add a little more drama. They’re painting rooms black, a charcoal gray, chocolate brown or a deep navy or green. The richness of the darker colors can make the space stand out, particularly when the surrounding home interiors are wrapped in otherwise light, neutral colors.Check out some of these interiors showi
U.S. Treasury yields rose after the Fed cut short-term ratesThe Federal Reserve is finally cutting interest rates. One key gauge of borrowing costs has been going up anyway.Yields on longer-term U.S. Treasurys have ticked higher since the Fed approved a 0.5 percentage point rate-cut last week. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note, which helps set interest rates on everything from mortgages to corporate bonds, settl
One of the most consequential Federal Reserve meetings in recent history has put investors’ focus squarely on one question: whether the central bank has kicked off its rate cutting cycle in time to keep the economy from slowing too rapidly.The Fed delivered a 50 basis point rate cut on Wednesday - lowering borrowing costs for the first time in more than four years - and assured investors the jumbo-sized reduction was a measure to safe
U.S. home builder confidence edged up in September as mortgage rates fell, breaking four months of consecutive declines, but remained at relatively low levels as rising costs continued to impede construction.The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index of builder confidence rose to 41 this month from 39 in August, the National Association of Home Builders said on Tuesday. A Reuters poll showed economists expected the outlook to increase to 40 this m
Apple is making it easier for users to control their smart home devices on Apple TV, iPads and iPhones with its latest software update.Apple continues its smart home evolution by introducing significant updates in its latest operating system releases: tvOS 18, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. These upgrades bring new functionalities designed to enhance user experience, optimize inter-device integration, and advance home automation.Taken in context with r
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