Alpha Real Estate Partners

U.S. Market Recon – February 2018

Economy
Housing
The US economy grew in the past quarter picking up the pace from the previous quarter. Unemployment is holding steady at 4.1%. Workers’ earnings fell to $917/week this month, though the long-term trend is positive. Rental vacancies continue to fall, with the national rate ticking down to 6.9%. Home ownership continues to rise, with the national rate climbing up to 64%. Home building applications are losing their upward momentum this month and quarterly housing prices continue to rise a further 1.5%.
Employment
Unemployment
4.10%
Long Term Unemployed
21.50%
Participation
62.70%
Earnings
$917
Unemployed and marginally employed

4.10% of the workforce is unemployed, which is
less than one year ago and an indication of a strengthening economy.

Read the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Situation press release for more in-depth analysis.

Long Term Unemployment
Long term unemployment

21.50% of the unemployed have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer which is
less than one year ago and an indication of a strengthening economy.

Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation

62.70% of the population is participating in the labor force, which is
less than one year ago and an indication of a weakening economy.

See the BLS’s Labor Force Characteristics for more analysis.

Average Weekly Earnings
Average weekly earnings

The average weekly earnings of full-time workers is
$917 ($47,693 annualized) which is
higher than one year ago and an indication of a strengthening economy.

See the BLS’s Usual Weekly Earnings press release for more analysis.

State Unemployment Rates
State Unemployment Rates

Lowest: Hawaii; Highest: Alaska
Year-over-Year Average Weekly Earnings Growth
Year-over-Year Average Weekly Earnings Growth

Lowest: New Hampshire; Highest: Wyoming
Macro Economy
GDP
3.10%
Inflation
.15%
Treasury Rates
2.58%
Mortgage Rates
3.95%
GDP Growth
GDP
% change in GDP from the previous quarter for the previous 10 years
Inflation
CPI
The consumer price index, core CPI (CPI excluding food and fuel) and the CPI of rent for the previous 10 years.
Mortgage and Benchmark Rates
Mortgage rates
10-year US Treasury yield and 30-year residential mortgage rates for the previous 10 years.
Housing
Rental Vacancies
6.90%
Home Vacancies
1.60%
Homeownership
64.20%
Housing Vacancy
Housing vacancy
6.90% of rental housing is currently vacant, which is
the same as one year ago.
State Rental Vacancy
State Rental Vacancy

Lowest: Washington; Highest: Wyoming
Homeownership
Homeownership
The homeownership rate is 64.20%, which is
higher than one year ago.
State Homeownership
State Homeownership

Lowest: District of Columbia; Highest: West Virginia
Home Building Permits
59k
Multi-Family Building Permits
33k
Housing Prices
1.49%
Building permits
Homeownership
Quarterly residential building permit approvals for single family and multifamily dwellings.

12-month Average:

– Single Family Unit Permits:
71,277
– Multifamily Unit Permits:
33,234
Per-Capita Authorized Building Permits, Trailing 12-Months:
Per-Capita Authorized Building Permits

The number of authorized housing units, for the previous 12 months, divided by the state’s population.
Housing prices
Housing prices

The FHFA housing price index is
higher than one year ago.

Year-over-Year Housing Price Growth
Housing price growth