Market Insights

The 2017 Houzz Landscaping Trends Survey reports that homeowners seek differentiation. 

Lou Holtz, football coach and motivational speaker, stepped on to the stage of the International...

Ivy Zelman says there is plenty of opportunity for growth in the single-family housing market and home improvement.

Pending home sales continued to gain in November and reached the highest level in 19 months, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 7.3% to 100.1 in November from an upwardly revised 93.3 in October and is 5.9% above November 2010 when it stood at 94.5. The October upward revision resulted in a 10.4% monthly gain.

Surveys top choice shows something new, according to HomeSphere.

Consumer research from Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group shows consumers are slightly less confident about the economy but are feeling better than last year.

The August 2012 NPD U.S. Economic Perception Indicator, a measure of consumer confidence, decreased slightly to 39.2, on a scale of 0 -- "very concerned" -- to 100 -- "very confident."

The August reading is down from 39.7 in July. A year ago, the perception indicator index was at 35.1.

A new Houzz survey reveals what the building permit process is like for both first-timers and experienced applicants.

Residential remodeling activity rose 34% in September 2011 in year-over-year comparisons, according to an index compiled by BuildFax, a national database of building permit data. It was the 23rd straight month of increases and the highest level of remodeling activity since the index was introduced in 2004.