Americans bought homes last month at the fastest pace in nearly eleven years. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes climbed 5.6% in November. They reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of almost six million units.
The last time home sales were this strong was in December of 2006, when properties sold at an annual pace of 6.4 million. Some of the factors that are driving this boom are the strengthening economy and rise of millennials getting into the housing market.
In other real estate news, the average size of the American home is getting bigger. According to real estate company Zillow, 44% of baby boomers live in houses larger than 2,000 square feet.
As the last members of the baby-boom generation become empty nesters, demand is growing for dual-purpose homes. Boomers are looking to remodel so that their homes comfortably fit a couple, but can also accommodate children and grandchildren when they visit for extended periods.
Big Business This Week is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
An Illinois jury ruled this week that several major egg producers conspired to limit the U.S.'s supply of eggs in order to raise prices in a case stemming from a federal lawsuit originally filed 12 years ago.
Consumers are expected to use “buy now, pay later” payment plans heavily this holiday season, a forecast that bodes well for retailers but that has credit experts again sounding alarm bells.
