MBA Newslinks Archive

“Historically low levels of inventory for new and existing homes should continue to support home prices into 2016. Meanwhile, housing demand is likely to remain solid as underlying fundamentals, including improving labor market conditions and household formations, continue to strengthen.”–Mark Vitner, senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities, Charlotte, N.C.

“2016 is looking to be a stronger year for home renovation activity compared to 2015 thanks to the continued recovery in the owner-occupied housing market. In most markets across the country, rising house prices are bringing more homes to the market and increasing sales, which is a large driver of home improvement activity.”
–Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

“The slowdown in rental appreciation will provide some relief for renters who’ve been seeing their rents rise dramatically every single year for the past few years.”
–Zillow Chief Economist Svenja Gudell.

“Despite recent months’ more upbeat data on new home sales and residential construction, prices have been relatively stable since August, with month-to-month momentum showing no significant gains, neither decelerating nor accelerating rapidly.”
–Yanling Mayer, FNC housing economist and director of research.  

“The financial and real estate markets appear stable as we begin 2016, but variables now surfacing could undermine short-term prosperity. The year ahead seems to be the waning days of a prosperous cycle–perhaps even a cyclical top in liquidity, pricing and transaction velocity.”
–Avison Young Chair and CEO Mark Rose. 

“Malls have had a better recovery than neighborhood and community centers up to this juncture, but neither has had a strong recovery on a widespread basis.”
–Reis Senior Economist and Director of Research Ryan Severino.

“The phrase that best captures Americans’ views on the choice between privacy vs. disclosure of personal information is, ‘It depends.'”
–Lee Rainie and Maeve Duggan, authors of a Pew Research Center study on consumer privacy. 

“Expanding flood insurance options will make it easier for more homeowners to obtain flood insurance. A competitive flood insurance market will expand available insurance options, lower costs and increase the number of at-risk properties that are insured.”–Stephen Bradshaw, executive vice president with Standard Mortgage Corp., New Orleans, testifying yesterday on behalf of MBA before the House Financial Services subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

“FHFA’s decision to disqualify captive insurance companies removes a vital component of the FHLBank membership which provides liquidity for the real estate finance market.”
–MBA President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, on a Federal Housing Finance Agency final rule on Federal Home Loan Bank membership requirements.