But recent jump in mortgage rates could restrain home buying activity headed into 2017
By Ben Leubsdorf | The Wall Street Journal
New-home sales rose in November and have posted solid growth for the year as a whole, though the recent jump in mortgage rates could restrain homebuying activity in 2017.
Purchases of newly built single-family houses, which account for a small share of overall U.S. home sales, increased 5.2% from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 592,000 last month, the Commerce Department said Friday. That was the largest one-month gain and the highest level for sales since July.
”The housing market remains healthy,” Barclays economist Rob Martin said in a note to clients.
