US Home Permits Decline as Mortgage Rates Remain Elevated

The average weekly rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage recently exceeded the 7 percent level for the first time since May 2024.
US Home Permits Decline as Mortgage Rates Remain Elevated
A home advertised for sale in a residential neighborhood in San Jose, Calif., on August 15, 2024. Loren Elliott/Getty Images
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The number of permits issued for building homes went down on a monthly and yearly basis in December 2024 as builders grappled with uncertainty in the housing market while mortgage rates remained high.

Building permits issued for residential properties fell by 0.7 percent in December 2024 from November 2024 and were lower year-on-year by 3.1 percent, according to a Jan. 17 statement from the Census Bureau.
Naveen Athrappully
Naveen Athrappully
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Naveen Athrappully is a news reporter covering business and world events at The Epoch Times.