Tag: Eye on Housing
How to Make Sense of the Tax Law Changes
The Tax Reform Toolkit is a series of blog posts featured on Eye on Housing that are designed to help builders and remodelers make sense of the changes in tax law as a result of the legislation passed in December. So far, three articles have helped illustrate key points of the pass-through deductions.
Trade Concerns Dampen Positive Housing Demand
Worries over trade-related impacts on the U.S. economy have proliferated throughout the housing industry. Most notably, tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber have triggered significant jumps in lumber prices.
Low Inventory Intensifies Housing Demand in 2018
A lack of existing home inventory continues to drive growth for residential construction and sustain strong home-builder confidence — now hovering near a two-decade high.
2018 Sees the First of Several Rate Hikes
The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate this month. At least three rate hikes are expected this year, three more in 2019, and at least two in 2020.
‘Qualified Business Income’ and You
One of the truly new aspects of the tax code signed into law by President Trump is the 20% deduction available to “pass-through” businesses (i.e. LLPs, LLCs, and S-corps). It was a centerpiece of the tax bill, and one which most small business owners have heard about. Nevertheless, it warrants a lot of explanation because it is a lot more complex than it sounds.
Starts and Sales Tell Two Tales
While total housing starts posted strong gains in January, new home sales numbers were somewhat disappointing. NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz shares more insights in a recent overview of the housing industry.
A Popular Bridge to Homeownership for Younger Buyers
Many would-be buyers continue to feel stuck on the sidelines because of the limited number of entry-level homes. But after a dramatic decline during the recession of the late 2000’s, townhouses have experienced a steady resurgence in popularity.
Home Shoppers, Start Your Engines – It Could Take a While
A national poll conducted by NAHB found 61% of prospective home buyers have been trying to find a home to buy for at least three months. Those who were polled cited several reasons for their prolonged search.
Millennials Lead the Homeownership Resurgence
Momentum continues to build for the housing industry, as evidenced by recent news from the U.S. Census Bureau regarding homeownership.
Housing Starts Up Sharply, Near Post-Recession High in October
Nationwide housing starts rose 13.7% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.29 million units after a slight upward revision to the September reading, according to newly released data from HUD and the Commerce Department. This is the highest housing production reading since October 2016, when total starts hit a post-recession high of 1.33 million.
