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80
February 2025
F I N A L T H O U G H T S
"back on track"
Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA's VP of Industry Analysis, detailed how December experienced a
modest decline in the overall mortgage forbearance rate as many U.S. borrowers recovered
from the harsh weather that hit the Southeast in late fall, with the level of forbearance higher
than it was six months ago across all loan types.
"devil in the details"
Daren Blomquist, VP, Market Economics at Auction.com, revealed that in the short term,
builders, renovators, and others contributing to the supply of new housing should feel more
confident due to the philosophical change toward deregulation. The details that emerge
from this philosophical change over the coming months, however, will be the tricky part, "as
always," he concluded.
"removing barriers"
Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), described
how the removal of financial hurdles such as unnecessary and expensive regulations that are
driving up housing costs and discouraging builders from creating more accessible, cheap
housing is the only approach to address America's housing affordability crisis.
"the need to expand"
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for Realtor.com, disclosed that although President Trump's
executive order surrounding housing costs lacks "concrete details," it correctly emphasizes
the need to increase the overall supply of housing in the United States.
"ubiquitous and foundational"
Steve Koller, Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate and Housing at the Joint Center for Housing
Studies, explained how insurance products for homes, rentals, and other properties are
essential to U.S. housing market stability, as insurance functions "like a glue that helps the
housing finance system stick together."
