By Brian O’Connell | TheStreet
There’s reason to be on edge as more news pours in about volatility in the the U.S. real estate market, with some especially sour news on the housing starts front. But a little analysis paints a more reassuring picture.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders, nationwide housing starts fell by 9.3% in June, and building permits slid by 4.3%.
Market observers were taken aback by the report, seeing a big slide in housing starts as incompatible with a housing environment offering relatively low mortgage rates and tight inventories — which both should trigger higher housing start activity.