Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

5 days ago Amy Carr BBC News BBC Chris Greenwood is a snagging inspector who helps new-build house owners find problems after moving in A new-build house inspector, known as a snagger, is urging owners to check their property thoroughly after picking up the keys, as he has found some strange things in people’s homes.…

The number of new homes completed last month was up nearly 10% compared to a year earlier. But further up the housing pipeline, things are not looking so bright. The number of new single-family housing starts — projects that began construction — dropped by 14% in March. That metric can be volatile month to month. But at…

With the caveat that pretty much any economic data collected before April’s tariff bonanza should be taken with a grain of salt — salt that hopefully isn’t imported — the Census Bureau dropped some fresh numbers this morning on newly constructed home sales in March. Turns out, sales were pretty strong last month, up 7.9%…

Lower mortgage rates and tight existing inventory helped push March new home sales up 7.4% month-over-month and 6% year-over-year, the NAHB said. WASHINGTON — A modest decline in mortgage rates and lean existing inventory helped boost new home sales in March even as builders and consumers contend with uncertain market conditions. Sales of newly built,…

The number of new homes completed last month was up nearly 10% compared to a year earlier. But further up the housing pipeline, things are not looking so bright. The number of new single-family housing starts — projects that began construction — dropped by 14% in March. That metric can be volatile month to month. But at…

With the caveat that pretty much any economic data collected before April’s tariff bonanza should be taken with a grain of salt — salt that hopefully isn’t imported — the Census Bureau dropped some fresh numbers this morning on newly constructed home sales in March. Turns out, sales were pretty strong last month, up 7.9%…

Jeff Ostrowski April 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM Homes are acutely unaffordable, a reality that’s pushing stressed-out buyers to consider fixer-uppers. While older homes might offer bargains upfront, there’s a catch: Aging properties saddle owners with maintenance costs that squeeze budgets and test patience. Homebuyers need nearly $117,000 in household income to afford a home,…

Lower mortgage rates and tight existing inventory helped push March new home sales up 7.4% month-over-month and 6% year-over-year, the NAHB said. WASHINGTON — A modest decline in mortgage rates and lean existing inventory helped boost new home sales in March even as builders and consumers contend with uncertain market conditions. Sales of newly built,…

Tariffs on key home-building materials — particularly softwood lumber — could significantly increase the cost of new homes in the United States. With the country already facing a housing shortage and widespread affordability challenges for many, new tariffs could price out over 100,000 more prospective home buyers. Home builders reported in April 2025 that existing…

The number of new homes completed last month was up nearly 10% compared to a year earlier. But further up the housing pipeline, things are not looking so bright. The number of new single-family housing starts — projects that began construction — dropped by 14% in March. That metric can be volatile month to month. But at…