Market Insights

Arlington, Va. -- Key housing metrics are in for a slow ride in 2011, and a quick upturn in 2012, according to the forecast from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Delivering the MBA's forecast here at the Home Improvement Research Institute's (HIRI's) Spring Conference, Michael Fratantoni, the MBA's VP single-family research and policy development, said that along with pent-up demand for housing, "there's a lot of pent-up supply out there."

Sales of new single-family homes in February fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 250,000, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The February stat is the lowest since the government began keeping track in 1963.

New-home sales for the month are 16.9% below the revised January rate of 301,000 and 28.0% below the estimate from February 2010.

Also, the report estimated the median sales price of new homes sold in February was $202,100, the lowest since December 2003.

Home prices across the United States weakened in October, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indeces.

Home prices decreased in all 20 MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) from their September levels, according to the report.

The chairman of the index committee did not attempt to sugar-coat the data, as six cities set new lows for the period since their peaks in 2006.

The following letters were a response to the article "Dealer turned commando stops alleged thief."

Wayne, N.J.-based roofing and ventilation manufacturer GAF was recently awarded four American Graphic Design Awards. 

The company also won an American Package Design Award for its TruSlate Sample Box. There were over 1,500 submissions in this contest, organized by Graphic Design USA magazine, which rewards packaging, p-o-p and related projects that are visually attractive and which feature designs that advance the brand and forge an emotional connection with the purchaser.

Home Channel News asked readers if they agreed with the selection of Jeffrey Immelt to lead the President's Council on Jobs and Effectiveness. Here's what we heard.

A new report from Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, points to growing stability in the lawn and garden industry.

In "Lawn and Garden Equipment in the U.S., 11th Edition," Packaged Facts demonstrates how lawn and garden sales have fared since they peaked in 2005.

According to the data, sales declined by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.2% between 2010 and 2014, an improvement over the more than 1% decline between 2008 and 2012.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association has sniffed out an important development in the world of kitchen and bath design: the tipping point has been reached for contemporary styles.

According to the NKBA's 2015 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends report, transitional (followed closely by contemporary) styles are now most popular in kitchens, with both styles tied in first place for bathroom styles.

That means transitional and contemporary have superceded the traditional aesthetic as number one in North American homes.