The MBS Highway National Housing Index jumped to 42 in January 2024, from 34 in December 2023. This was the second straight month of improvement after six months of decline. While normal seasonality is playing a supporting role in the turnaround, the lead actor has been the sharp fall in mortgage rates in late-2023.
Pending Home Sales
Pending Home Sales (signed contracts on existing homes) surged 8.3% from November to December, due in large part to falling mortgage rates per the NAR. Their Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun,