Connect with us

Business

US housing market stays tight as median home prices hover near $400,000

Published

on

US housing market stays tight as median home prices hover near $400,000

Home prices are still climbing, even as mortgage rates have eased slightly and inventory shows early signs of improvement, underscoring just how tight the U.S. housing market remains.

The median sales price for all existing homes last month hovered just below $400,000, marking the 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Advertisement

That persistent affordability squeeze is putting renewed pressure on homebuilders to help get the American dream back on track.

Homes under construction with mountains in the background.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.11%, according to Freddie Mac. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

TRUMP PLEDGES TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE WHILE KEEPING VALUES UP

Despite softer consumer sentiment and elevated borrowing costs, the homebuilding industry is signaling cautious optimism heading into the year.

“A lot of builders, many of these small businesses, men and women building homes across this country, had some of the best January they’ve had in a while,” National Association of Home Builders CEO Jim Tobin told FOX Business.

Advertisement

Industry leaders say part of that momentum stems from growing acceptance that interest rates are likely to stabilize rather than surge higher. A resilient stock market and steady job growth have also helped support buyer confidence on the margins.

Meanwhile, a structural shift in the market is giving new construction a competitive edge.

For the first time in modern housing cycles, newly built homes in some markets are now cheaper than existing homes. Builders say “rate lock” dynamics are a major factor. Millions of homeowners are reluctant to give up ultra-low 3% or 4% mortgages for rates closer to 6% or higher, limiting resale inventory and pushing more buyers toward new builds.

“A lot of people have more confidence in what their house should cost, and what we’re seeing right now is that new homes are the only game in town,” Tobin added.

Advertisement
Builders work on putting together a new house.

The homebuilding industry is signaling cautious optimism. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

HOMEBUYERS REFUSE TO BACK DOWN AS MORTGAGE RATES CONTINUE HOVERING STUBBORNLY NEAR 6% MARK

The supply imbalance remains severe. The U.S. is estimated to be roughly 4 million homes short, according to industry estimates, keeping upward pressure on prices even as construction activity fluctuates.

Still, builders face significant headwinds of their own, including high land costs, elevated labor expenses, material prices and regulatory hurdles at the local, state and federal levels.

At this year’s NAHB International Builders’ Show, the world’s largest annual light construction event, the industry is spotlighting new strategies aimed at improving affordability. Those include the use of alternative building materials, artificial intelligence in design and planning, and the expansion of smaller, more efficient housing models such as smart and tiny homes.

Advertisement

One of the most notable shifts is the steady downsizing of new homes.

Construction workers builds home with US flag in background

Builders face significant headwinds, including high land costs, elevated labor expenses, material prices and regulatory hurdles. (Joshua Lott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

AMERICAN HOMEBUYERS GAIN MOST PURCHASING POWER SINCE 2022

After the Great Recession, the average new home size reached roughly 2,700 square feet, according to Census data and an NAHB analysis. That fell to about 2,565 square feet during the pandemic housing boom and is projected to decline further to around 2,400 square feet by the end of 2025, according to the latest data available.

Builders are also cutting costs by simplifying designs, reducing or streamlining design teams and increasingly leveraging AI-driven planning tools to improve efficiency.

Advertisement

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

As a result, the average price of a newly built home is now estimated to be roughly $30,000 lower than the average existing home in certain markets, a reversal that would have been nearly unthinkable in previous housing cycles.

With resale inventory constrained and affordability still strained, builders are increasingly positioning innovation, efficiency and smaller footprints as the blueprint for easing America’s housing shortage.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Katie Nolan Has Epic Freak-Out Meeting Jeopardy! All-Stars Before Celebrity Showdown

Published

on

Katie Nolan

Katie Nolan, the sports media personality and longtime Jeopardy! enthusiast, couldn’t contain her excitement after crossing paths with two of her favorite recent contestants just hours before stepping onto the Celebrity Jeopardy! stage for the All-Stars edition.

Katie Nolan

In a behind-the-scenes clip released by ABC ahead of the March 13, 2026 premiere, host Ken Jennings teased Nolan about her earlier encounter with standout players Sam Buttrey and Andrew He. The moment sent the broadcaster into full fan mode: hands flying to her head, eyes wide, voice rising as she exclaimed how surreal it felt to meet them in person.

“Oh my God, I freaked out,” Nolan said in the preview, laughing at her own reaction. She described He giving her a last-minute pep talk loaded with classic sports clichés. “It was literally every locker-room line you’ve ever heard. I don’t know if it helped, but it was amazing.”

The clip, widely shared across social media and highlighted by TV Insider and other outlets, quickly became one of the most talked-about moments leading into the season opener. For Nolan — who has never hidden her deep love for the quiz show — the interaction felt like a full-circle dream.

Nolan first competed on Celebrity Jeopardy! during the 2023-2024 cycle, powering through the quarterfinals and semifinals before finishing as runner-up in the finals and raising $100,000 for The Trevor Project. Her return for the All-Stars tournament places her among an elite field of 21 celebrities, including three former champions who receive direct semifinal berths: Ike Barinholtz, Lisa Ann Walter and W. Kamau Bell.

Advertisement

Tonight’s Quarterfinal #1 pits Nolan against Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch and actor-director Mark Duplass. The episode airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

Fan sites and prediction threads on Reddit and Jeopardy! message boards give the trio fairly even chances heading into the game, citing their strong buzzer timing and clue-conversion rates from prior appearances. Many observers expect the outcome to hinge on Daily Double timing and aggressive Final Jeopardy! wagering — elements producers have emphasized will carry extra weight in this All-Stars format.

The new season introduces strategic tweaks designed to reward bold play, a change Jennings has praised in recent press interviews. “These players know the game now,” he said. “They’re coming back ready to swing bigger.”

Beyond competition, Nolan’s genuine fangirling has struck a chord with viewers. Social media reactions poured in after the sneak peek dropped, with fans calling her response “the most relatable celebrity Jeopardy! moment ever” and “proof she’s one of us.”

Advertisement

Her sports broadcasting background — spanning roles at ESPN, Fox Sports and her own podcast work — has long translated into quick recall and composure under lights. That same energy was on full display during her debut run, where she frequently outpaced better-known names in clue acquisition.

The All-Stars lineup remains stacked: Macaulay Culkin, Patton Oswalt, Cynthia Nixon, Margaret Cho, Ray Romano, Mina Kimes, Mo Rocca, Roy Wood Jr., Robin Thede, Mira Sorvino, Steven Weber, Sean Gunn, Andy Richter, Jackie Tohn, Tim Simons and others round out the field. Each celebrity plays for a charity of their choice, continuing the spinoff’s tradition of blending high-stakes trivia with philanthropy.

For Nolan, though, the experience transcends the scoreboard. In past interviews she has called appearing on Jeopardy! “literally my favorite thing on Earth,” and the chance to meet players like Buttrey and He only amplified that joy.

Whether she advances to the semifinals will be decided tonight, but her pre-game enthusiasm has already secured her a win in the eyes of many longtime viewers. As one fan posted on X shortly after the clip surfaced: “Katie Nolan losing her mind over Andrew He is the content we didn’t know we needed.”

Advertisement

Tune in to ABC at 8 p.m. ET to see if Nolan can channel that same energy into another strong Celebrity Jeopardy! performance.

Continue Reading

Business

Iran war puts many in US on high alert, but synagogue attack shows limits

Published

on

Iran war puts many in US on high alert, but synagogue attack shows limits


Iran war puts many in US on high alert, but synagogue attack shows limits

Continue Reading

Business

Turning Grit Into a Leadership-Driven Business

Published

on

Poorly designed and inadequately maintained workplaces are draining the UK economy of more than £71 billion a year, according to new research from facilities and security services company Mitie.

How Trig, Inc. Turned a Simple Idea Into a Sales Organization

In 2018, Adrienne P. saw something many people overlooked.

Major national brands were expanding. Retail environments were evolving. Digital marketing was growing fast. Yet many companies still needed something simple and human: real conversations with customers.

That gap in the market led to the launch of Trig, Inc., a Columbus, Ohio–based sales and leadership development organization.

The idea behind the company was direct. Represent brands face-to-face. Build trust with customers. And develop the next generation of business leaders along the way.

Advertisement

“The industry often focuses on quick transactions,” Adrienne says. “But we’ve always believed in real conversations. If you understand the customer, the rest of the process becomes clearer.”

That belief helped shape Trig from its earliest days.

The Story Behind the Name Trig

Unlike many companies, the name Trig does not come from a long business backstory.

Instead, it came from a simple moment of creativity.

Advertisement

“I scrambled the word grit and landed on Trig,” Adrienne says. “There wasn’t some deep branding exercise behind it.”

But the meaning behind the word stuck.

Grit became a quiet theme inside the company. It reflected the work ethic required to succeed in a competitive sales environment.

“Hard work, discipline, and consistency matter more than flashy ideas,” Adrienne says. “That mindset shaped how we built the company.”

Advertisement

The focus was never just growth. It was sustainable growth.

Why Face-to-Face Sales Still Matters

Trig was founded to meet market expansion demand from national clients. Many brands needed strong in-person representation in retail locations, sports venues, and event environments.

While technology continues to change the sales world, Adrienne believes personal interaction still plays an important role.

“People want information, but they also want connection,” Adrienne says. “A conversation allows you to understand what someone actually needs.”

Advertisement

Trig teams represent products and services directly to customers in these environments. The goal is not to rush the interaction.

Instead, the company trains team members to ask questions and listen carefully.

“Our model is simple,” Adrienne explains. “It has to be a win for the client, a win for the customer, and a win for the team. If it’s not all three, we don’t move forward.”

That approach helped the company build long-term relationships with clients rather than relying on short-term results.

Advertisement

Building a Culture Around Leadership and Growth

From the outside, Trig might look like a traditional sales organization. But inside the company, the focus is broader.

Adrienne describes Trig as a leadership and entrepreneurial development organization.

Team members are trained in more than just product knowledge. They learn communication skills, emotional intelligence, leadership habits, and business thinking.

Many employees begin with limited business experience. Over time, they develop the ability to lead teams, manage performance, and solve problems independently.

Advertisement

Adrienne believes this approach benefits both the company and the individuals involved.

Recognizing Consistent Performance Over Time

Since launching in March 2018, Trig has received more than 25 awards tied to performance, leadership, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Some of the recognitions include:

  • Campaign Pacesetter Awards
  • National Pacesetter honors
  • Market Expansion Leadership Awards
  • Consistency Awards
  • Million Dollar Club Awards from 2018 through 2025

One achievement stands out in particular.

Trig has earned Campaign Cup recognition for seven consecutive years, recognizing the highest sales production among comparable channels used by its clients.

Advertisement

Adrienne says the recognition reflects long-term consistency rather than one strong year.

“Anyone can have a good season,” she says. “What matters is maintaining that level over time.”

The awards also reinforce the company’s focus on discipline and steady improvement.

The Role of Integrity in High-Performance Work

Sales organizations often face pressure to prioritize numbers.

Advertisement

Adrienne believes strong results matter. But they must be paired with integrity.

“High performance without integrity doesn’t last,” she says. “But integrity without performance is ineffective.”

That balance shapes how Trig approaches customer interactions.

Representatives are trained to understand customer needs before presenting products or services. The company encourages team members to slow down conversations and listen carefully.

Advertisement

“People can tell when you’re just trying to close something,” Adrienne says. “If you focus on understanding first, you build trust.”

That trust often leads to stronger relationships between brands and customers.

The Long-Term Vision for Trig, Inc.

More than seven years after its launch, Trig continues to operate with the same mindset that shaped its founding.

Integrity remains central. Performance is expected. And growth is constant.

Advertisement

Adrienne believes the company’s biggest impact may come from the people it develops along the way.

“We’re building leaders who create opportunity for others,” she says.

That focus on leadership development is what Adrienne sees as the company’s long-term contribution to the industry.

“We build for our clients,” she says. “But we grow as a team.”

Advertisement

For Trig, the formula is straightforward.

Integrity is the foundation. Performance is the standard. And growth is a daily habit driven by grit.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

3 Food Stocks With Big Dividend Yields That Wells Fargo Just Downgraded

Published

on

3 Food Stocks With Big Dividend Yields That Wells Fargo Just Downgraded

3 Food Stocks With Big Dividend Yields That Wells Fargo Just Downgraded

Continue Reading

Business

FAA lifts ground stops at Reagan National, other D.C.-area airports after chemical smell disrupts controllers

Published

on

Emirates airplane

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted ground stops Friday evening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and other major airports serving the Washington, D.C., region after a strong chemical smell at a key air traffic control facility forced a temporary halt to operations.

Emirates airplane
Unleashed Agency / Unsplash

The disruptions began around 4:50 p.m. when the FAA issued ground stops at Reagan National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) airports. The agency cited a “strong chemical smell” at the Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in Warrenton, Virginia, about 50 miles west of the capital, that was impacting some air traffic controllers.

The Potomac TRACON manages approach and departure traffic for the busy airspace covering the D.C. metropolitan area, as well as Richmond International Airport (RIC) in Virginia, which also fell under a ground stop. Additional airports in the facility’s coverage area, including Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and Manassas Regional Airport, experienced similar restrictions. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) faced ground delays tied to the regional ripple effects.

FAA officials initially described the issue as an “equipment outage” on their status page, but later clarified in statements that the odor was the primary cause, affecting controller operations. The agency did not immediately identify the source of the smell or confirm whether it posed a health risk, though no injuries or evacuations were reported at the TRACON facility.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation on social media, stating that the FAA was actively investigating the odor and working to resolve it. “The FAA is investigating a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON,” Duffy posted. In follow-up updates, officials emphasized efforts to “address the source of the strong odor.”

Advertisement

By approximately 7:45 p.m., the FAA lifted the full ground stops at DCA, IAD and BWI. Flights resumed under ground delay programs, with some departures facing waits of up to three hours or more into the overnight period Friday into Saturday. Dulles reported departure delays climbing to 90 minutes and increasing during the peak of the disruption.

Passengers at the affected airports reported long lines and uncertainty as airlines scrambled to manage the backlog. At Reagan National, located along the Potomac River just minutes from downtown Washington, travelers posted photos of crowded terminals and gates with delayed or canceled flights. Similar scenes unfolded at Dulles, the region’s main international gateway, and BWI, which serves as a major hub for Southwest Airlines.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of the nation’s air traffic system to even localized issues at control facilities. The Potomac TRACON handles thousands of flights daily in one of the country’s most congested airspaces, where military operations, commercial traffic and presidential movements frequently overlap.

FAA spokesperson Donnell Evans confirmed in an email that the smell directly affected controllers, prompting the precautionary halt to prevent safety risks. “The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic … because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers,” Evans said.

Advertisement

Authorities have not released details on what caused the odor, though some social media speculation from aviation observers suggested possible HVAC issues, maintenance chemicals or an environmental factor at the facility. The FAA said investigations were ongoing, with no immediate indication of foul play or a hazardous materials incident requiring broader emergency response.

As operations normalized, airlines began issuing waivers for rebooking and changes without fees. Travelers were advised to check flight status directly with carriers or through the FAA’s flight status tools.

The ground stop lasted roughly three hours at its peak, a relatively short duration compared to past major disruptions but enough to create cascading delays across the East Coast. By late Friday evening, the focus shifted to recovery, with controllers reportedly back online after the facility addressed the immediate concerns.

The FAA urged passengers to monitor fly.faa.gov for real-time updates. No further ground stops were anticipated as of late Friday, though residual delays were expected to persist into Saturday morning.

Advertisement

This incident marks another reminder of how sensitive the aviation network is to issues beyond weather or mechanical problems at individual airports. Officials have not indicated any long-term impact on operations.

Continue Reading

Business

Port of Tauranga Limited (PTAUY) Analyst/Investor Day – Slideshow

Published

on

OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Port of Tauranga Limited (PTAUY) Analyst/Investor Day – Slideshow

Continue Reading

Business

Q4 GDP Second Estimate: Real GDP At 0.7%, Lower Than Expected

Published

on

Q4 GDP Second Estimate: Real GDP At 0.7%, Lower Than Expected

Wooden cube with the word USA and GDP on an American flag background. Business and GDP growth. Gross Domestic Product concept of USA. Counting only income generated within the country.

Worawith Ounpeng/iStock via Getty Images

By Jennifer Nash

U.S. economic growth cooled more than expected in Q4 2025, according to the BEA’s latest estimate. Real GDP rose at just a 0.7% annual rate, falling well short of the 1.4% forecast and marking a steep drop-off

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

TrumpRx expands with 2 new drug makers offering prescription discounts

Published

on

TrumpRx expands with 2 new drug makers offering prescription discounts

EXCLUSIVE: The White House is expecting to announce an expansion of drugmakers offering discounts on TrumpRx.gov, FOX Business has learned.

As early as today, Amgen and GSK will be added to the list of prescription drug manufacturers offering discounts on the government website. That makes a total of 54 prescription medications from six pharmaceutical companies that have signed on to the most-favored-nation pricing under pressure from President Donald Trump and the threat of tariffs.

Advertisement

Amgen will offer medication on the website that cuts 80% off the retail price. Amjevita has an original price of $1,484, but will be available on TrumpRx.gov for $299. The medication treats rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SOUND ALARM ON HEALTHCARE COSTS

President Donald Trump and Dr. Mehmet Oz at an event.

President Donald Trump speaks as Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz looks on during an event on drug pricing in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus Feb. 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The company plans to list Aimovig and Repatha for discounts of 62%.

GSK will discount Incruse at 55% of the retail price. The drug treats COPD and will be listed at $159.

Advertisement

GSK also plans to list Arnuity, Relenza and Anoro at discounts ranging from 10% to 51%.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
AMGN AMGEN INC. 366.21 -1.58 -0.43%
GSK GSK PLC 53.39 -0.89 -1.64%

“GSK and Amgen connecting with TrumpRx.gov to offer prescription drugs directly to consumers at most-favored-nations pricing marks another milestone for President Trump’s affordability push,” White House spokesman Kush Desai told FOX Business. 

“TrumpRx.gov is just the beginning, however, as Americans are set to (receive) even greater drug pricing discounts, lower insurance premiums and more transparency when Congress passes President Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan.”

A pharmacy tech pulls medication from a shelf inside a pharmacy

Amgen will offer medication on the website that cuts 80% off the retail price. (George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America represents major drug companies.

Advertisement

CEO Stephen Ubl believes “Government-imposed most-favored-nation policies would undermine U.S. competitiveness while doing nothing to address insurance practices that deny care and raise costs for patients.

HOUSE GOP SEEKS OFF-RAMP TO SKY-HIGH HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

“These policies would siphon billions from American R&D, slow the pace of cures and increase reliance on China for future innovation.”

An image of medication at a Walgreens pharmacy.

GSK will discount Incruse at 55% of the retail price. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The White House is pushing ahead with announcements to TrumpRx.gov as Americans look for ways to cut medical costs.

Advertisement

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Under the Biden administration, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows, prescription drug costs increased 10.4% from January 2021 to January 2025. Under the Trump administration, prescription drug prices increased 0.2% from January 2025 through the latest data from February 2026.

Continue Reading

Business

Form 13D/A Health Catalyst For: 13 March

Published

on


Form 13D/A Health Catalyst For: 13 March

Continue Reading

Business

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMPH) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference – Slideshow

Published

on

OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMPH) Presents at Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference – Slideshow

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025