Problems in the housing market and a slowing economy have pushed the homeownership rate down to 67.8% -- the lowest rate since the first quarter of 2002. The Census Bureau reported that the homeownership rate declined from 68.2% in the third quarter to 67.8% in the fourth quarter. During the housing boom, the homeownership rate peaked at 69.2% (in the second quarter of 2004). The homeownership rate for blacks rose from 46.7% in the third quarter to 47.7% in the fourth quarter, while the rate for Hispanics fell below 50%, to 48.5%. The Census Bureau report also shows that a large inventory of vacant homes that weighed on real estate markets last year will continue to put downward pressure on house prices in 2008. The number of vacant single-family homes for sale rose 6.5% to 2.18 million in the fourth quarter. There were 2.1 million unsold vacant homes on the market in the fourth quarter of 2006.
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House Republicans overcame internal divisions to narrowly pass President Trump's tax and spending package Thursday afternoon. The measure would cut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding level, among other provisions.
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A labor shortage is costing the market tens of thousands of new homes per year, and tariff uncertainty is adding thousands of dollars in expenses per unit.
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The pace of revenue growth slowed toward the end of 2024, with the trend continuing into the first three months of this year, NAHB reported.
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Capital One closed the deal to buy the credit card provider in May and as part of the review process, decided to exit its home equity lending business.
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The 10 basis point decline in the 30-year fixed mortgage was the most since March and the first time rates are below 6.7% since April, Freddie Mac said.
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The firm, now going by Fairway Home Mortgage, said the change is a representation of plans to create a "connected ecosystem."
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