Housing Slows, Jobs Cool What It Means for Buyers Now
In this brief market update, the presenter highlights several recent U.S. housing and labor trends relevant to prospective homebuyers. Mortgage applications for home purchases are up 4% year‑over‑year but down 2% week‑over‑week, indicating mixed short‑term demand. Demand for senior housing is outpacing new construction, while overall residential construction activity has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade. The National Association of Realtors reports an 8.4% month‑over‑month decline in existing‑home sales for January, attributed mainly to winter weather and limited inventory. Retail sales growth stalled in December after a modest 0.6% rise in November, per the Commerce Department. The BLS January jobs report shows a still‑strong labor market with a 4.3% unemployment rate, but revised figures reveal that 1.5 million jobs were created in 2024 (down from an earlier 2 million estimate) and only 181 000 jobs were added in 2025, suggesting a cooling in job growth. The presenter invites viewers to comment, like, tag friends, and visit the website for further discussion.
