1.Housing starts dip slightly in February; permits surge
“Construction of new housing units remained essentially flat last month compared to January as builders struggle to ramp up construction.”
2.Despite big jump in food prices, inflation remained tame last month
“WASHINGTON — Despite a sharp jump in food costs, consumer prices increased just 0.1% last month in an indication inflation remains in check, the Labor Department said Tuesday.”
3.Housing Starts in U.S. Little Changed From Stronger January
“Housing starts in the U.S. were little changed in February after declining less than previously estimated a month earlier, indicating the home-building industry is stabilizing after bad winter weather curbed construction. “
4.How to buy a house that isn’t for sale
“Some buyers are getting creative when low inventory levels threaten to crush their home-buying dreams: They’re writing letters to homeowners, asking if they’d be interested in selling. “
5.Housing starts slide for 3rd straight month; price pressure dormant
“U.S. housing starts fell for a third straight month in February, but a rebound in building permits offered some hope for the housing market as it struggles to emerge from a soft patch.”
6.Americans’ economic confidence up slightly
“Americans continue to be more negative than positive about the economy but they are currently somewhat less negative than they have been at other points since 2008, including during the fiscal crisis, periods of high unemployment, and government battles over the debt ceiling and trimming the federal budget, according to the latest survey from Gallup Inc.”
7.Ten hidden costs of commercial real estate — part 1
“Although all known circumstances of a property need to be disclosed to a buyer by the seller as stated in a purchase agreement, issues creep up over the years of ownership. Laws change, improvements are made to the property, tenant’s needs change and some issues may not had been fully researched at the time of the purchase.”
8.Early Spring Thaw in Homes for Sale? Listings Up 10%
“Brutal winter storms in much of the country didn’t stop home sellers from being optimistic about the housing market, with 10 percent more properties for sale nationwide in February compared to a year ago, according to data released today by realtor.com. The median list price increased 7.6 percent to $199,000 during the same time, according to the National Housing Trend Report.”
9.California home inventory rises as sellers gear up for spring
“California home sales fell year over year for the seventh straight month in February, though inventory rose as sellers gear up for the spring homebuying season, according to the California Association of Realtors.”
10.Who Owns Agency MBS? Is Fannie & Freddie’s Future Set? The MBA Weighs in
“What is the MBA applications number going to tell us tomorrow? My bet, given stories from lock desks around the nation, is that we’ll see an improvement last week. Zelman & Associates, in its Mortgage Originator Survey, notes, “Despite weather and limited inventory constraining greater purchase acceleration, according to contacts, robust inquiry and pre-approval volume bodes positively for future origination business for well-positioned lenders. Despite the relative improvement in purchases, depressed refinance activity and greater competition for purchase business has eroded lender profitability as reflected in the 15 basis point compression in the primary-secondary spread since the near-term peak in April 2013 and decline in our profitability index”