The Home-Buyer Tax Credit May Have Actually Worked
Developments Blog by WSJ
“Did the last round of the home-buyer tax credit have a bigger impact than analysts had previously anticipated? When it comes to new home sales, the answer may be yes. Consider that U.S. existing home sales ran at an estimated seasonally adjusted rate of 5.77 million in April, up 7.6% from March’s pace. Meanwhile, Commerce Department estimates of new single-family home sales ran at a seasonally adjusted rate of 504,000 last month, up 14.8% from March.”

U.S. Average House Size Shrinks in 2009
Big Builder Online
“The average size of a new single-family house shrank significantly from 2008 to 2009, the census figures show. Nationally the average decrease was 51 square feet, to 2,422 square feet.” The Wall Street Journal Developments Blog also comments on this trend here.

Job Growth is Key for Housing Recovery
Residential Architect
“According to the JCHS report, the housing recovery will hinge on employment recovery. Historically, high employment rates have driven both existing-home purchases and new-home purchases. Unemployment is at an all-time high, and as of April 2010, 6.7 million workers had been out of work for six months or longer.”

Demand for Windows Forecasted to Rise
Pro Sales Online
“Demand for windows in the United States will reverse a four-year slide in 2010, climbing 10.5% to 43 million units and then continuing to rise steadily through 2013, a research group working for two major trade associations has forecast.”