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Housing Market and Economic News Update: September 27, 2024
Thompson Kane is dedicated to helping our community stay on top of the ever-changing landscape of the housing market and the economy. Here are this week’s latest developments:
This Week’s Housing Market News
- New Home Sales: New home sales declined less than anticipated in August. Many homebuilders are feeling more confident about the short-term future, supported by the recent dip in interest rates.
- Medium Home Prices: While existing home sales saw a 2.5% decrease last month, August marked a record high for median home prices during this time of year.
- A Refi Jump: Refinance applications jumped 20% last week, now sitting a remarkable 175% above where they were at this time last year. Applications for home purchases also saw a slight uptick, rising 1% over the week.
This Week’s Economic Highlights
- Economic Growth Exceeds Expectations: The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3% during the second quarter, exceeding Wall Street forecasts and reflecting continued economic strength.
- Durable Goods Hold Steady: Orders for durable goods remained steady in August, performing much better than the predicted 3% decline.ย
- Jobs: Despite reports indicating a cooling labor market, jobless claims last week dropped to 218,000โthe lowest in four monthsโwhile hiring activity remained slower.