Fueled partly by an increase in the share of sales to first-time buyers, existing-home sales increased in May to their highest pace in nearly six years, according to the National Association of Realtors. Led by the Northeast, all major regions experienced sales increases in May.

Buoyed by rising home prices throughout much of the nation, both single-family and multifamily housing starts are expected to post double-digit gains over last year in 2013.

Is it safe to say the woodworking industry is recovering? Yes, a home buidling and remodeling is driving it, as the latest Federal Reserve Beige Book documents. An underlying factor: formation of new households.

Home prices could be near the bottom, says Robert Shiller, Yale economics professor and co-founder of the Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

The list of housing markets with measurable improvement nearly doubled in January, with 40 new metros added to the National Assn. of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. The index identifies metro areas with improvements in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months.