Market Matters

What do American homeowners really want? Source: HousingWire The median and average size of a new single-family home built in 2013 hit new all-time highs of 2,384 and 2,598 square feet, thereby showing that Americans haven’t lost their desire for the bigger the better. According to new data, larger, more luxurious homes are one segment of new home sales that are flourishing. Read the full story     Mortgage Rates Are Falling, So Where Are the Home Buyers? Source: The Wall St. Journal     Housing demand hasn’t budged much yet, despite the fact that mortgage rates have fallen close to their lowest levels in nearly a year. Some experts believe that mortgage rates at 4.1 percent may not be seen as a steal by buyers who lived with rates that were even lower for all of 2012 and the first half of 2013. In addition, low rates and pent-up demand in 2012 could have given false signals about the true health of the demand side of the market in 2012 and 2013. Read the full story