In The News
Respected business news and trade media outlets turn to our team for clarification on important and timely issues. John Burns regularly appears on national TV and major media discussing current housing industry topics, and many of our leaders are featured regularly in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, CNN, and USA Today. Below are some of the most recent and notable headlines.
To see our entire list of press mentions, please click here.
Journalists requesting interviews or research should email press@realestateconsulting.com for assistance.
Notable John Burns Real Estate Consulting Mentions
Smaller Homes Set to Make a Comeback
According to an NAHB analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, about 23.2% of the homes built during the 1990s were 3,000 feet or more and that number rose to 28.6% from 2010-2015.
Single-Family For-Rent’s New Footprint
Lorraine Woellert and her editors at Politico have it at least partly right in her piece, “Why Washington Can’t Fix the New Housing Crisis.” By nature Washington is Washington and housing is local.
How I Made It: John Burns, real estate guru, joined the industry by ‘accident’
Burns originally had no desire to go into real estate. Instead, he wanted to build a business in the late 1980s based on fantasy baseball or, as it was then called, “rotisserie” baseball after a restaurant where its founders came up with the idea.
Homebuilders are targeting millennials — but it will hit their margins
The largest generation is finally starting to buy houses. The trouble is, there aren’t enough houses for sale to feed their appetite, at least not enough they can afford.
Brookfield Residential’s Delano at Eastwood Village Impresses at Grand Opening Event, Model Homes Now Open Daily
The recent debut of Brookfield Residential’s new Delano at Eastwood Village in Irvine was a grand success with an impressive number of guests touring the townhome collection’s professionally decorated model homes.
Robots May Help Build Your Next Home and Fill the Labor Gap
The future of U.S. homebuilding depends on more people like Cyndicy Yarborough, a 26-year-old former Wal-Mart clerk with no background in construction.
New Courtyard Plans Offered at Silverleaf
The latest release of detached courtyard homes feature open-concept floorplans with light-filled living spaces, luxurious master suites, modern amenities and two-car garages, plus large, private yards.
Home sales and median prices rise for January and February in Northern Virginia
A feeling of spring in the air in January and February matched the level of activity in the Northern Virginia housing market during those months.
Desirable New Locations Available at Silverleaf in Portola Springs® Village, Many With Spacious, Private Yards
Desirable new locations are now available at California Pacific Homes’ Silverleaf in Irvine’s Portola Springs® Village, presenting fresh opportunities to own at this popular neighborhood.
Housing prices on the rise in Prince George’s, Montgomery
Lack of housing inventory continues to be a problem throughout the Washington region, but Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland have far surpassed other jurisdictions in the area when it comes to price appreciation.
Inside a Rising Demand for Two or More Master Bedrooms
The popularity of multiple master bedrooms in single-family homes has grown at the luxury level, according to Realtor.com.
The Secret to a Happy Marriage? Two Master Bedrooms
Homeowners with a hankering for extra elbow room are driving a lucrative market for homes with multiple master bedroom suites.
The politics and economics behind the most controversial Super Bowl ad
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the controversial Super Bowl TV advertisement that showed an immigrant family encountering a border wall is that the company behind it denies it was about immigration at all.
Pacific Union International Creates Strategic Partnership with Nest Labs
Pacific Union International, Inc., a global innovator in bringing real estate technology to the industry, launched today a partnership with Nest Labs, Inc., the architect of the thoughtful home.
How the GOP’s tax plan could affect the real-estate market
Business Insider, January 2017
Until recently, the mortgage interest deduction was right up there with Social Security as a sacrosanct institution on Capitol Hill, protected by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Trump Stirs Homebuilders’ Dreams of Bulldozing Environment Rules
As Don Huffines sees it, Donald Trump’s election instantly made his Dallas-area pastureland much more valuable.
One solution to Southern California’s housing crisis: building in tight spaces, small lots
In Santa Ana, not long ago, on a tired commercial stretch west of downtown, stood a church, a burnt-out motel and something harder to see: one key to alleviating the region’s housing crisis.
Homebuilders super happy but not building more homes: Here’s what’s up with that
At face value the numbers make no sense. A monthly survey of homebuilder confidence in December released Thursday from the National Association of Home Builders spikes to the highest level in 11 years.
Luxury Home Sales in U.S. Continue to Rise
Sales of luxury homes in most parts of the U.S. have continued to increase over the last year, according to an analysis of more than 40 high-end counties in 16 states, despite concerns from some analysts about a slowdown.
Housing Market: This Luxury Builder Is Priced to Move
Home builders say they are fairly upbeat about housing conditions. The stock market suggests otherwise.
Higher Rates Don’t Mean Lower House Prices After All
The housing market has reached its long-anticipated new milestone: U.S. home prices finally topped record levels for the first time since July 2006, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index released this week.
Home Building’s ‘Elephant in the Room’
Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of fall industry conferences: the Urban Land Institute (ULI) fall meeting in Dallas, a Vistage Construction Network CEO Roundtable in Boston, and John Burns’ Fall Homebuilding Conference in New York.
Mortgage applications tank 9% as post-election rates soar
A sharp spike in interest rates following the election of Donald J. Trump last week threw icy cold water on the mortgage market.
5 big real-estate trends to watch in 2017
A surprising twist toward the end of 2016 with the election of real estate magnate Donald Trump as president is likely to presage some dramatic changes in 2017 for the housing industry…
Design Matters at TRI Pointe
Builders often find themselves taking a hit-the-ground-running approach and jumping straight into ideas that they know will work.
Surveillance: Trump to Be Reaganomics on Steroids, Rattner Says
Steve Rattner, Willett Advisors’ chairman, says Donald Trump’s policies can transform the U.S. economy.
Homeowners twice as house rich as five years ago
America’s housing market is heating up again, fortifying the finances of current homeowners and frustrating potential first-time buyers.
America Is Building More Three-Car Garages Than One-Bedroom Apartments
Inventory has been a major theme of U.S. housing markets in recent years, as a shortage of homes for sale has pushed prices higher and low vacancy rates have increased rents.
The New American Suburb is Diverse, Dense, and Booming
A new Demographic Strategies for Real Estate report points to a shift in the archetypal housing developments we’ve come to know as the norm.
Almost everyone the Fed questioned had terrible things to say about Houston’s economy
Business Insider, October 2016
Houston’s economy is cooling down.
Why housing numbers are not as horrible as they look
September housing starts came in 9 percent below August and 12 percent below September 2015, according to the U.S. Census, but those big drops belie a huge improvement for the market, at least in this monthly read.
Texas Builder Aggressively Markets Starter Homes
Builders sprung back to life after the housing bust by focusing on high-end projects in upscale neighborhoods.
Expect Long Waits for Post-Hurricane Home Repairs
There will be plenty of large-scale reconstruction to do in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, which has been blamed for dozens of deaths since it made its first U.S. landfall Friday and is still causing catastrophic flooding throughout eastern North Carolina.
Houston’s boom is over
Business Insider, October 2016
Houston’s boom is over.
That’s what analysts at BMI Research argued on Tuesday in a research note on Texas’ second-largest metro area.
Millennials aren’t big spenders or risk-takers, and that’s going to reshape the economy
They’re known for bouncing around jobs, delaying marriage and holing up in their parents’ basements.
Hurricane Matthew could inflict $200 billion in damage to coastal homes
About 11 million Floridians are in the path of Hurricane Matthew, which is now expected to come ashore as a deadly Category 4 storm.
Mortgage rates finally break higher: What you should watch
Mortgage rates took their biggest leap in two months on Friday, thanks to a sell-off in the U.S. bond market.
Millennials will be renting for a lot longer
The U.S. housing market continues to move ahead, but a generation of homebuyers is being left behind.
Buyers are willing to pay extra for ‘smart homes’
Could “smart home” technology — features such as network-connected thermostats, security devices, appliances and lighting — help you sell your home faster and for more?
Buyers say they’re willing to pay extra for ‘smart’ homes
Could “smart-home” technology — features such as network-connected thermostats, security devices, appliances and lighting — help you sell your property faster and for more?
With home remodeling expected to hit new highs, here’s how to play it: Experts
Spending on home remodeling is expected to hit new highs this year, and according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Bob Wetenhall there’s still time for investors to capitalize on it.
Spending on Home Improvement Is Set to Pick Up as Building Pace Slows
Spending on single-family home construction remains 40% below the levels of a decade ago, but new forecasts project that U.S. investment in residential remodeling and repairs this year will surpass records set during the housing boom.
City roof decks raising the stakes on housing
The push toward urban living is pushing the envelope for real estate developers, forcing them to become more creative with the space they have.
Home Prices in the Bay Area Push Builders, Buyers to More Distant Suburbs
With median home prices in San Francisco hovering near $1 million, developers are looking to the far reaches of the Bay Area and beyond in search of affordable land on which to build.
The Rise, the Fall, and the Trend of U.S. Housing
In today’s “Single Best Chart,” Bloomberg’s Tom Keene displays real existing home prices in the U.S.
Make finances in ‘multi-gen’ household a family affair
Today’s different generations are getting cozier when it comes to sharing living space
Orange County home prices rise above their 2007 bubble-era peak
Seven and a half years after bottoming out amid the Great Recession, median home prices in Orange County finally surpassed their bubble-era heights last month.
Builders Fail to Profit From Slump in Raw Materials Prices
The more than yearlong slump in prices for raw materials used in construction hasn’t been of much benefit for U.S. builders.
Lago Mar expects first residents in fall
The first phase of residential development is underway at Lago Mar, a community being developed by Land Tejas in Texas City. The 2,033 acres reserved for Lago Mar are expected to accommodate 4,400 home sites.
More Baby Boomers Migrating to the City
Baby boomers, the largest and wealthiest generation to retire, are changing the face of cities by choosing to retire to urban areas rather than suburbs.
For homebuilders, new regulations mean no new starter homes
As the Pacific waves crash below, the frames of luxury homes rise above — in what is being called the last seaside development in Southern California.
Silicon Valley Mansions Linger on Market in Real Estate Slowdown
A custom-built home in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley had its price cut by $500,000 last week after sitting on the market since the end of March — a move that would’ve been almost unfathomable a year ago and a signal that frenzied demand has peaked.
How rooftop decks are becoming the must-have amenity for 2016
When Conrad Lifsey and his partner, Derek Loftin, who own a luxury RV rental company in Palm Springs, bought a house 2015 in a property development called Sol, what sealed the deal for them wasn’t inside, but up on the roof.
Woodside Homes Adjusts and Grows After its Stock Offering Stalls
In spring 2014, Joel Shine was ready to cross the finish line. After working for more than a year to take Woodside Homes public, the son of a longtime Los Angeles home builder had the Salt Lake City–based company poised for an IPO.
Home Builders Say They Are Squeezed by Rising Compliance Costs
The average cost for home builders to comply with regulations for new home construction has increased by nearly 30% over the last five years, according to new research from the National Association of Home Builders.
Affordable Starter Homes Prove Increasingly Elusive
At Paradise at Ironwood Crossing, a 2,100-home master-planned community southeast of Phoenix, new houses starting as low as $170,000 are snapped up within weeks of hitting the market.
This Skills Gap Is Hurting America’s Housing Market
The construction industry deserves a closer look.
While America’s housing market is recovering, the construction industry has struggled to catch up.
Rising Real Estate Prices Are Making Homebuyers Cozy Up To Urban Eyesores
LOS ANGELES — Robert Leviton’s loudest neighbour is a 12-lane freeway.
The busy stretch of highway that runs alongside his townhouse complex is visible from his north-facing windows.
Home-Price Surge Stymies First-Time Buyers
Connie Durnal has more than two decades of experience as a broker in the Dallas real-estate market. But these days she thinks of her career in two distinct phases: the last two years and “the olden days.”
Homebuilder blues: Don’t blame labor shortage
Home construction weakened in March, and homebuilder sentiment hasn’t budged in three months — all this in the heart of the historically strong spring housing market.
Mortgage Interest Deduction Loses Traction with Young Buyers
Buying a home no longer offers attractive tax breaks, due to near-record low mortgage rates and an increase in the standard deduction.
Niche homes remain attractive option
It was beginners’ night for pickleball at Sweetgrass, a development in Richmond built for the 55-and-over set, but there were plenty of veteran players on the courts.
Could the San Francisco real estate market finally be slowing down?
Some air may finally escaping from the inflated San Francisco real estate market. Home prices in the San Francisco Bay Area were down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis…
Homeownership no longer a tax break
It may be yet another reason why younger Americans are choosing to rent: Buying a home is unlikely to offer them any tax break.
Owning a Home in U.S. Has Fewer Tax Benefits Than You Think
The tax benefits of homeownership, which generations of U.S. residents have counted on, have been elusive for typical buyers since mortgage rates started tumbling in 2008, according to an analysis by John Burns Real Estate Consulting LLC.
Lack of inventory pushes up home prices in Northern Virginia
Low inventory and competition for homes in popular areas near the city and Metro stations are impacting Northern Virginia this spring along with the rest of the Washington-area market.
Want to snag a home in Maryland? The hunt is fierce.
The spring real estate market in the Washington region often starts way before residents change their clocks for daylight saving time or see their first crocus poke from the earth. This year is no exception…
More older Americans becoming renters
Baby boomers are altering the American Dream. After having the home in the suburbs, the kids, the two cars, and maybe even the picket fence, a growing number now want to ride elevators to rental apartments and walk out the door to restaurants.
Spring started early for D.C. housing market
While January’s blizzard slowed the housing market briefly, buyers dug their way out quickly and got back to the business of touring homes and making offers, particularly in the city.
Tired of rising rent? Maybe you should consider becoming a landlord
The stock market is looking wobbly. Bonds are paying you about what you’re losing to inflation. And the rest of the investment landscape is about as reliable as the latest presidential candidate poll.
Widening U.S. Home-Price Gap Makes Trading Up Harder
The widening gap between the middle and upper tiers of home prices is making it harder for people to trade up, tightening inventories and pressuring prices, according to a study set to be released Monday.
Stock market swoon stalls luxury home sales
Rampant volatility in the U.S. stock market is showing up in the high-end housing market. But as with all things real estate, the impact depends entirely on location.
Job quality not keeping pace with home price gains in Denver
Metro Denver continues to top the charts for annual home price appreciation among major metro areas, making it one of the most expensive housing markets outside the two coasts.
The Three Big Forces Driving MultiGen Attraction and Traction
Armed with data from John Burns Real Estate Consulting that 21 million American households are composed of more than one adult generation under the same roof. Olick highlights three reasons for the large–and growing–multigenerational household composition:
Under one roof: Multigenerational housing big for builders
Jennifer Michaels didn’t expect her Seattle-area house would sell so quickly, especially since she hadn’t settled on a new home yet. With nowhere to go, the divorced mom moved herself and her two teenagers in with her mother, Lucy Abbott, thinking it would be temporary.
Apartment builders woo the wealthy with over-the-top services
During the height of last decade’s housing boom in Los Angeles, developers drew up plans to place luxury condos on top of hotels. The pitch was not only the posh digs, but the hotel services wealthy owners would enjoy without having to leave the comforts of their living room.
New U.S. Homes Make Room for Airbnb Crowd
LAS VEGAS—The splashy model house unveiled this week during the home-building industry’s largest trade show featured an unexpected design concept: roommates.
Homebuilders adjust to slower housing market
Houston Chronicle, January 2016
Mark and Linda Thering’s brand-new house in Spring boasts 3,100 square feet, a fireplace, game room and two patios. The couple also got something homebuyers until recently could only dream of – a $15,000 discount.
Metro Denver housing remains constrained and combustible
Embers from metro Denver’s scorching housing market, which cooled late last year, remain hot enough to reignite into another nation-leading performance, some forecasts are predicting.
Friendswood Development keeps on growing in Houston
Houston Chronicle, January 2016
Friendswood Development Co. is gearing up for home sales in two area communities as it reports a high volume of sales in some others.
Houston still a leader in master-planned communities
Houston Chronicle, January 2016
The Houston area again claimed more top-selling master-planned communities than any other metro area in the U.S., even as two longstanding favorites fell off the list and sales slowed in some others.
21 Top-Selling Masterplans
Congratulations are in order for the 21 top-selling masterplans in the country, and the top 3 project winners follows last years with The Villages, The Irvine Ranch, and Nocatee.
Heaps of housing added to local market in just a few years
Houston Chronicle, December 2015
The dawning slowdown in the Houston-area housing market arrives on the heels of a striking boom where homebuilders and apartment developers increased the housing supply by almost 10 percent in just a few years.
Chicago’s home prices driving some buyers to suburbs
Chicago Tribune, December 2015
Megan Keskitalo and her husband, Glenn Eckstein, were enthusiastic city dwellers until the suburbs began calling. First it was Chicago’s crime, then it was worry about school districts, and in the end, it was money that pushed them past the city’s edge.
Mortgage rate hikes could temper Denver home prices next year
The Federal Reserve’s decision Wednesday to lift interest rates could hit metro Denver residents close to home and temper a two-year run-up in home prices.
New homebuilders enter market as Woodlands nears build out
Houston Chronicle, December 2015
The Woodlands brand recognition and the booming south Montgomery County economy has continued to draw in new homebuilders. But time is running out for those looking to get into The Woodlands.
Here’s how Chinese homebuyers are reshaping U.S. housing
Chinese money is becoming a major force in real estate around the world and in America, with a recent luxury development 35 miles northwest of Dallas being only the latest frontier, according to an article in the New York Times.
U.S. Restricts Raising Cap on Federally Backed Mortgages
Home prices continue to climb, but the U.S. government is keeping a lid on the size limit for federally backed mortgages, posing problems for home buyers in many pricey markets.
Why do Housing Starts in 2015 Continue to Struggle?
Some believe housing starts have struggled because of lot and labor shortages, and high construction cost, but John Burns Real Estate Consulting says it may be a lot simpler than this.
Fewer Golfers, but Some Lush Courses Are Coming Back
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Weeds, crabgrass and fallen palm fronds cover the wildly overgrown greens of what was once the Mizner Trail Golf Club, its decrepit state emblematic of the fate of hundreds of golf courses around the country, many of them derisively known as “rabbit patches” or “goat farms.”
San Francisco real estate looking like it did before dot-com crash in 2000
MW Market Watch, November 2015
Surging rents, skyrocketing real-estate prices and booming tech companies. Sounds like San Francisco in 2015, right? It also describes the city just before the tech bust of 2000, according to a recent report.
Renters aren’t saving to buy a house
Looking across the vast spectrum of housing surveys today, most will claim that the majority of renters want to buy a home eventually. That may be, but they’re not saving to do that.
Millennial Home Buyer: Facts vs. Fiction
Much attention has been paid to skyrocketing college costs, with many positing that the resultant accumulation of unprecedented student loan debt—now totaling more than $1 trillion—makes homeownership unaffordable for millennials.
How the housing markets of the two World Series cities compare
Business Insider, October 2015
October is here: the leaves are changing, jack-o-lanterns are carved, and builders are preparing to hit year-end sales goals. October, of course, is also home to one of America’s greatest sporting events, the World Series.
New kitchen? New bathroom? Why the time is now
Now that U.S. homeowners are feeling better about the value of their property, they seem more apt to add to that value.
Want a discount on a house? Drive way out of town
Ever since the Greeks built temples on high and the Egyptians erected pyramids in the sand, real estate has always been all about location.
Construction Workers ‘Left the Business and They Didn’t Come Back’
Home builders are facing delays and rising costs as they struggle to find enough construction workers.
Labor Shortage Pinches Home Builders
Home builders this year have booked their strongest sales since the recession. A shortage of construction workers, however, is making it tough…
The fall real estate market in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia has had a so-so housing market thus far in 2015, and David Howell, executive vice president and chief information officer of McEnearney…
Housing today: A ‘bubble larger than 2006’
Home prices are gaining steam again, fueled by tight supply amid growing demand.
Homes as ATMs: It’s starting again
As home values rise, homeowners are gaining more equity on paper — and they’re taking it out in paper.
The fall real estate market in Maryland
Washington Post, September 2015
While no one anticipates a return to the frenzied housing market of the pre-recession days or even the hectic pace in 2013 when low inventory and low mortgage rates pushed some buyers into bidding wars…
Meet the Hipster Real Estate Developers Building for Millennials
John Chaffetz is showing off an apartment building that his development firm, Timberlane Partners, just bought for $7.2 million. He admits it doesn’t look so hot.
The weather is cooling, but the D.C. housing market isn’t
Washington Post, September 2015
The District’s real estate market remained in fifth gear even from June to August when activity typically slows down considerably…
Here’s the major trend exacerbating labor shortages in the American homebuilding business
Business Insider, September 2015
One huge part of the US economy that’s been experiencing major labor shortages is the construction sector.
How an Immigration Downturn Has Contributed to the Construction-Worker Shortage
The U.S. construction industry has lost more than half a million Mexican-born workers since 2007, contributing to a labor shortage…
Find out if your housing market is over- or underpriced
Business Insider, September 2015
Is your market over- or underpriced? Here is a map of our over/underpriced conclusions today.
If mortgage rates go to 6%, here’s what happens to housing
When it comes to interest rates, what goes down eventually must go up.
Drought Dogs Developers in California’s Soaring Housing Market
California’s already tight housing market is facing another long-term complication: drought.
Niche Builder LGI Homes Targets Renters For Starters
As apartment rents keep rising, LGI Homes (LGIH) derives more marketing power to turn renters into homeowners.
Housing Shift: Big Investors Snap Up New Homes for Use as Rentals
It was widely deemed a temporary play: Large-scale investors buying thousands of discounted foreclosed properties during the worst of the housing crash and turning them into single-family rentals.
Why a Stronger Housing Sector Isn’t Boosting the U.S. Economy That Much
Construction of single-family homes, which packs an outsize economic punch, has stalled, as new households rent and building costs have risen.
Jeff Gundlach is opening a new fund
Business Insider, September 2015
Bond guru Jeff Gundlach’s DoubleLine Capital has announced its first commodity-based investment product.
Energy woes hit real estate market, but slowdown could be worse
Houston Chronicle, August 2015
Houston’s real estate market hasn’t avoided the slowdown triggered by collapsing oil prices, but a more diverse economy will help offset weakness in housing and vacancies in area office towers, industry experts said Tuesday.
What does Black Monday mean for Chinese homebuyers?
The repercussions of Black Monday could go further than just today’s major hit, with the future of Chinese homebuyers now in question.
Chinese Investors are Gobbling Up US Homes
Chinese home buyers comprise roughly 2% of US housing demand—and far more than that in the gateway metro areas with excellent airport access.
Losing Water, Califiornia Tries to Stay Atop Economic Wave
Despite the drought, communities are pushing ahead with plans for new housing, with advocates saying there will be enough water to meet the demand.
John Paulson Is Starting to Cash In on His Big Land Grab
Hedge-fund manager John Paulson, who made billions wagering against subprime mortgages, has started to profit from a U.S. housing bet that took longer to ripen: owning land.
Renting detached homes is an untapped market
Builders and developers will now start building more detached homes for rent.
This is why millennials will never grow up
Your grown-up children may never hit many of the milestones you’ve come to associate with adulthood — and you can blame their crushing student loan debt for that.
How much will Bay Area homes cost a year from now?
Homes like this one in San Francisco are continuing to sell well, and most experts say Bay Area housing prices will be rising over the next year. Many are more cautious about long-term forecasts.
Home Sales in Orange County Hit 10-year High
The Orange County (Calif.) Register staffer Marilyn Kalfus delivers a mid-year report on the local housing market, where home sales topped $11 billion in the first half –the most in a decade.
Arizona firm enters Chicago, snaps up Orleans Homebuilders
Taylor Morrison, an Arizona-based homebuilder in an expansion mode, has acquired the assets of Orleans Homebuilders in Chicago and two other markets for $166 million.
Dead U.S. Exurbs Are Staging Comebacks
Erica Luna’s commute eats almost four hours out of her workday, and means no messing around with the snooze button at 4 a.m.
Will Chinese buyers flee or flood US housing?
Turmoil in the Chinese stock market could have a quick and direct effect on U.S. housing.
Surging rent will turn a lot of renters into buyers
Rents in the highest-quality apartments rose 4.4% last year, including an 8.0% jump in one West Coast portfolio.
Big investors buy fewer homes but see bigger gains
Some credit them with saving the housing market. Others blame them for taking advantage of a crisis and bullying real homebuyers out of the American Dream.
DESIGN TRENDS: WHAT BUYERS LOVE IN KITCHENS AND BATHS
Consumers often rate the kitchen as the most important room in the home, and with good reason….
Rising Mortgage Rates to Test Housing Market’s Strength
Wall Street Journal, June 2015
The housing market could be in for a bumpy ride as mortgage rates climb.
The US household formation boom will fuel construction for years
If you want an industry with a great long-term outlook, consider construction.
Why aren’t more homes being built?
The supply of existing homes for sale is incredibly short, and while builders are starting to construct more homes than they did a year ago, they are still producing well below normal volumes.
Independent Living Apartments Surge Among Seniors
Builder and Developer Magazine, June 2015
A growing lifestyle choice for 75+ seniors.
The timing is right for a merger, two Southland home builders say
More than once, the chief executives of Southern California home builders Standard Pacific Corp. and Ryland Group Inc. talked about whether they should combine their operations.
America’s most undervalued markets
It’s no surprise that rustbelt cities have floundered in the wake of factory closures and businesses moving manufacturing overseas, and that continues to have an adverse effect on housing prices.
Denver developers can’t get lots to market fast enough
Homebuilder David Sinkey looked into his crystal ball about 30 months ago and a disturbing vision appeared.
Denver housing: Rocky Mountain high and HOT
When Christopher Simmons began shopping for a home in Denver six months ago, he had no idea the risk and the frustration it would take to get one.
A house that thumbs its nose at the drought
Imagine a home that could recycle two-thirds of the water it uses. No need to imagine.
Not saving early for college tuition is everyone’s problem. Here’s why
BlackRock’s Rick Rieder takes a strictly pragmatic perspective on the broader consequences of parents not thinking long-term
Why You Should Care About the Rising Cost of College
It’s nearly graduation season, and that means it’s as good a time as any to weigh in on why you should care about rising college costs, even if paying for tuition and paying back student loans won’t ever be on your to-do list.
Renters Are Staying Put
The New York Times, April 2015
High rents and more affordable mortgages are not persuading more renters to buy, according to a new study.
New-Home Sales Trend Looks Solid
Builder optimism, year-over-year gains suggest strong start to spring selling season
New-home opportunities available for buyers willing to wait
If you’re interested in buying a newly constructed house in the Washington region, you’ll find plenty of options in a variety of price ranges.
More Home Builders Say This Spring Smells Rosy
Wall Street Journal, March 2015
More signs have emerged that the current spring home-selling season is off to a far better start for the home-building industry than at this time last year.
How tiny mortgage rate moves can buy you a lot
It may seem like mortgage rates have been vacillating in a tight range, brushing up against 4 percent on the 30-year fixed and then falling back. Rates, however, are still considerably lower than they were a year ago.
Experts: New Homes Have ‘Plenty of Runway’ in 2015
A proliferation of data and new data analysis methods are changing the way builders buy, sell and develop vacant land, according to experts, and builders are cautiously optimistic that easier credit and more flexibility will help the new homes market rebound in 2015.
Consumer Confidence Lifting Home Sales
Wall Street Journal, February 2015
The housing market has been disappointing in the past year, with sales essentially flat. But there are signs that the market is starting to stir.
Sales Slow At Top 20 Master Planned Communities
Professional Builder, February 2015
But while those numbers indicate a drop from 2013, the group still outperformed home sales nationwide, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
How a Two-Tier Economy Is Reshaping the U.S. Marketplace
Wall Street Journal, January 2015
Five years ago, Quadrant Homes churned out starter houses in the Seattle area with an average sales price of $269,000 and the marketing slogan, “More House, Less Money.”
St. Charles, MD Reports Sales of 250 New Homes in 2014
The St. Charles Companies reported 250 new home sales for the year, the third year in a row of more than 200 new home sales contracts…
Empty-nester boom offers boon for builders in Washington region
Baby boomers Julie Healy and her husband, Vladimir Leonov, have plenty of energy and mobility now. But…
Housing Market’s Foundations Crack
Wall Street Journal, December 2014
Sales of New and Existing Homes Look Less Than Inspiring
How low gas prices fuel the housing market
The huge drop in gasoline prices is just the boost the housing market needs heading into 2015.
One Big US Industry Will Be Happy To See Energy Companies Lay Off Workers
Business Insider, December 2014
Laborers in the US energy industry are nervously watching crashing oil prices as they wonder what persistently low prices could mean for their jobs.
Life stages influence housing plans
Chicago Tribune, November 2014
The share of 25- to 29-year-olds who are married is down, way down…
2014 ULI Fall Meeting Quick Takeaways
Urban Land Institute, November 2014
Generally speaking, the industry is experiencing a bright recovery and the outlook continues to be positive for real estate development and housing, though there is still a wide abundance of caution and avoidance of over-optimism regarding appreciation.
Bay Area Land Deal Shows Dirt Prices Still High
Wall Street Journal, November 2014
A venture led by developer Trumark Homes is paying roughly $200 million for 184 acres of raw land in the hill country east of the Bay Area in a sign that demand remains strong for land in the top housing markets.
Will this get millennials to buy homes?
One Wall Street firm has an idea that’s raising eyebrows: forgive some student debt for first-time homebuyers.
Homebuilders Offer Freebies as Booming U.S. Markets Cool
Joseph Beben wasn’t in the market for a house until he heard about a year-old community in suburban Phoenix where 10 homebuilders are offering buyers incentives such as swimming pools, built-in barbecues and subsidized mortgage rates.
Democrats’ new villain: Student debt
Democrats in tight races have found a new villain this election cycle: student debt.
Consumer Watch: Bending bummer, Blackberry’s latest & Student loans
Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more problems Apple’s newest iPhone is creating the latest concerns.
Millennials holding back housing recovery?
Discussing how student debt is holding back first time home buyers, with Glenn Kelman, Redfin CEO, and CNBC’s Diana Olick.
Weighing The Week Ahead: Should Stock Investors Fear Current ‘Divergences’?
In the wake of the FOMC meeting and the IPO hype, we face a week with little new information – the lull before earnings season. This sort of vacuum makes it difficult to predict the week ahead, but I have an interesting idea:
What’s behind the housing summer slump?
John Burns Real Estate Consulting CEO John Burns weighs in on the latest housing data.
After losing their homes in the foreclosure crisis, boomerang buyers are back
Chris Noblejas, a former real estate agent, got hit by a double whammy during the housing crisis.
San Pedro project illustrates a cause of limited housing affordability
Los Angeles Times, August 2014
Aa groundbreaking ceremony in May, neighborhood activists and local government officials celebrated Ponte Vista, a development of 676 homes in San Pedro.
New-Home Slowdown Pressures Recovery
Wall Street Journal, July 2014
Demand for new homes slowed sharply during the first half, a development that threatens to reverberate beyond the housing market and throughout the broader economy.
Volatile Phoenix housing: A cautionary tale
Phoenix is a lesson in housing abuse. From boom to bust, to recovery to relapse, Phoenix housing is forever rising and falling, and now it is falling again. The rest of the nation should take notice.
Chinese Lead Way as Foreigners Step Up Purchases of U.S. Homes
Wall Street Journal, July 2014
Foreign Purchases of U.S. Residential Real Estate Jumped 35% Last Year
Starter Homes in Demand With Builder LGI Shares Soaring
Cheryl Pate-Yow rushed to LGI Homes Inc.’s sales office south of Houston the day after receiving a mailer that said she could own a new home for $689 a month, only $24 more than rent on her one-bedroom apartment.
Retirement moves make a comeback
Retirement moves, which dropped sharply during the worst of the recession, are making a comeback.
Condo Towers Rise From Boston to L.A. in U.S. Rebound
For the first time since the U.S. housing crash, new condominium towers are sprouting in downtown Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles as developers bet on the return of the riskiest type of residential real estate.
Homeseller Reluctance Worsens US Home Inventory Shortage
Jaimie Adler said it’s getting cramped in the Lexington, Massachusetts, house she shares with her husband, two daughters and an au pair who occupies the former office. They’d sell, Adler said, if more homes were on the market in the Boston suburb.
Regulatory issues hurting the housing market?
John Burns Real Estate Consulting founder John Burns on the outlook for the housing market.
The ripple effects of housing’s fading rebound
The housing rebound is fading. And it may be awhile before it gets a second wind.
Texas Builder Tests the Merits of Pace Over Price
Wall Street Journal, April 2014
D.R. Horton Launches Unit Focused on No-Frills Homes
American Households With Adult Children Are Still On The Rise
Why are household formations so low? Because 1.2 million more adults live with their parents than just 8 years ago!
Buyers in survey crave dining rooms, tubs
Homebuilders, don’t touch that bathtub! Keep your paws off the dining room too.
Wanted: Employed 25- to 34-Year-Olds to Buy Houses
It’s hard to expect much of a lift for housing amid a dearth of fresh, real demand—not just demand from investors and speculators.
Construction and sales of new houses in D.C. area are rising
Construction and sales of new houses in the Washington region have rebounded since the Great Recession, when activity slowed considerably, and analysts are expecting both to continue rising this year.
Surging Home Prices Are a Double-Edged Sword
Wall Street Journal, March 2014
Affordability Troubles Grow, Especially for First-Time Buyers
Blackstone-Fueled Single-Family Home Boom Lifts Chicago
The world’s largest alternative-asset manager is among investors buying distressed properties in the Chicago area after private-equity and hedge-fund firms helped send property values surging in hard-hit markets such as Phoenix and Atlanta.
First-time home buyers already burdened by debt often need help to qualify for mortgages
Washington Post, February 2014
Heavy student-debt loads, persistent employment troubles stemming from the recession and newly toughened mortgage underwriting standards…
Think Millennials are stalling the housing market?
Think again. They have nothing on reluctant thirty-somethings.
Santa’s Gift to Builders: Higher Home Prices
Wall Street Journal, January 2014
Did home builders regain their pricing mojo in December?
Home building back to historic levels in some cities
Cities that are leading the nation in home building have land available for development, pent-up demand for housing, and strong economies and job growth.
How long will Houston boom last? Top 5 real estate predictions for 2014
Culturemap Houston, December 2013
Houston’s real estate market is one of the hottest in the world. Nothing this good lasts forever and some say job growth won’t be as strong next year. But the boom is not over yet.
On the House: Some analysts fear housing is losing steam
The last three months – he is referring to September, October, and November – “have been characterized by slowing sales and a rising percentage of greedy sellers dropping price to generate activity.”
Southern California is Running Out of New Homes to Sell
Business Insider, December 2013
Good luck finding a new home to buy in Southern California these days-the supply of new home projects open and selling in Southern California is currently at a 20-year low.
Home prices continue steady rise, as sales slow
The Baltimore Sun, December 2013
Home prices in the Baltimore metro region continued a slow and steady climb in November, while sales grew sluggish, a seasonal trend exacerbated by economic uncertainty.
The Predictions Issue: 2014
Will Miami’s market continue its current pace toward recovery? Yes. Overall, we expect Miami’s housing market to experience steady growth. However, lack of affordability and minimal developable land will constrain sales velocity and likely push home prices even higher. We are projecting steady price appreciation in Miami’s market…
New home sales heat up
John Burns Real Estate Consulting CEO John Burns on 440,000 new home sales in October.
US Builders Concerned Over Impact of Weak Home Sales in October
Realty Biz News, December 2013
A recent survey of builders carried out by John Burns Real Estate Consulting has revealed that sales of new homes in October fell by 8% compared to September, and by 6% compared to a year earlier. This is the second consecutive month in which this survey has shown…
Weak October Sales Have Home Builders Fretting About Spring
Wall Street Journal, November 2013
Weak sales tallies in October mean home builders face a winter full of worry.
A monthly survey of builders across the U.S. by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, a housing research and advisory firm, has found that respondents’ sales of new homes declined…