If you were asked to name a hot home design trend, you probably wouldn't guess log homes. And yet, new data from the National Association of Home Builders shows last year's sales of log and timber homes were 56% higher than in 2012. That's a big jump. So what's behind the increase? Well, for one thing, today's log and timber homes don't resemble what might come to mind when thinking of an old-fashioned “log cabin.” According to the NAHB, “Revenues from log and timber frame homes have risen at a faster pace than units sold over the past six years as floorplans for the homes have expanded and offerings more extravagant.” In other words, today's log homes are bigger and more luxurious than in the past. In fact, the average log home is 2,031 square feet. Still, the popularity of the homes is impressive when considering the fact that sales last year were only 7.8 percent below the number sold in 2006, while the rest of the single-family construction industry is down 42 percent. In short, log homes have been around forever and, based on their current popularity, they aren't going anywhere any time soon. More here.

Maintenance is a big part of being a homeowner. Put simply, owning a home means having a never-ending to-do list and, depending on your level of know-how, some of it will require the help of a professional. These jobs can range from major renovations such as putting an addition on your house to basic upkeep and repairs like having ducts cleaned and fixing leaks. Essentially, you are your home's temporary caretaker and how well you take care of it will affect not only how comfortable and enjoyable your home is to live in but also how much you can ask for it when you sell. These days, it seems Americans are increasingly interested in fixing up their homes. In fact, newly released data from the National Association of Home Builders shows home remodeling contractors are busy right now. So what kind of jobs are most in demand? Well, results show demand is highest for basic maintenance and repairs, while additions and alterations – both major and minor – saw slight declines during the second quarter. In short, Americans are tackling their to-do lists and fixing up their homes. This could be due to improved economic conditions and a stronger job market, though it may also be that current homeowners are tending to their homes in hopes of listing them someday soon. More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, demand for mortgage applications was down 2.5 percent last week. But, though there was a decline in the overall number of home buyers looking to secure financing, there was an increase in buyers seeking loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. And, since FHA loans typically have lower down payment requirements, this could be a indication that, despite the market's current challenges, first-time home buyers are returning. Mike Fratantoni, MBA's chief economist, told CNBC last week's results provide some evidence of that. “The mix of business changed, with FHA purchase volume increasing as conventional and VA volume decreased,” Fratantoni said. “This indicates that more first-time buyers are entering the market, even as the market as a whole continues to be restricted by tight inventories of homes available for sale.” Also in the report, average mortgage rates saw little movement last week, with rates virtually unchanged across all loan categories. The MBA's weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

With rental costs and home prices both increasing, it's become more challenging for renters to save for a down payment. How much so? Well, according to one recent analysis, the typical renter will have to save for nearly six and a half years to come up with a 20 percent down payment on a median-priced home. And, since the median home value is currently $216,000, depending on your prospective neighborhood, it could take even longer to save up for a house. Renters who aspire to homeownership shouldn't get discouraged, though. Despite the fact that a 20 percent down payment is the standard amount recommended by financial experts, it is not a requirement in order to buy a house. In fact, depending on the particular terms of your mortgage, you can put down as little as 3 percent. In 2017, for example, 29 percent of first-time buyers had a down payment between 3 and 9 percent. That's why it's important to explore your options before deciding homeownership is out of reach. More here.

The vast majority of surveyed Americans say that homeownership is among their retirement goals, according to a recent survey. In fact, 85 percent of non-retiree respondents said they want to own their own home in retirement and believe they can pay off their mortgage before they retire. But, though non-retiree participants feel like they'll have their mortgage paid off in time, more than 25 percent of retired respondents said they're still paying off a mortgage and over half of those had a balance of more than $50,000. In short, Americans may be a bit too optimistic. But regardless of whether or not they make it, the debate about homeownership and retirement will continue. On the one hand, tax breaks and equity make a good case for the wealth-building benefits of owning a home. But, on the other hand, property tax, maintenance and potential renovation costs can add unpredictability to a household budget that may largely be fixed. In the end, which situation is the right one for you will ultimately depend on your personal finances, assets, and outlook – as there is no one-size fits all strategy for meeting your retirement goals. More here.

The challenge of finding an affordable entry-level home in today's housing market gets a lot of coverage. First-time buyers facing higher rent, difficulty saving for a down payment, and low inventory are an important demographic and their habits have implications for the overall health of the market. But, at the same time as the starter-home market has been hot, demand for luxury homes has also ramped up. In fact, new research shows sales of homes $1 million and higher are up 25 percent over last year – which represents the largest jump since January 2014. In short, the improved economy and job market has also led to an increase in demand for luxury homes, the same way it has elevated demand across all segments of the housing market. Among specific regions, northern California leads the pack with four of the top 10 fastest-growing luxury markets. Other fast-growing markets include Denver, Seattle, and Nashville, which all have seen homes on the high-end of the market going under contract in fewer days than at this time last year. More here.

If you've been paying attention to this year's housing market, you already know that there's been a high level of demand and a lower-than-normal number of homes for sale. That lack of balance has led to rising prices and more competition. But, despite the challenging conditions in many markets across the country, home buyer demand has not let up. Mostly, that's due to an improved economy and job market. Mike Fratantoni, the Mortgage Bankers Association's chief economist, recently told CNBC the job market is the primary factor driving demand. “The strong job market continues to bolster demand for homes,” Fratantoni said. In short, prospective buyers feel more secure in their jobs and financial situation, which makes them less hesitant to enter the market. That's proven by new numbers showing a 7 percent surge in applications for loans to buy homes last week. But there's also evidence that more homes are being listed for sale and, though inventory hasn't yet rebounded, the trend may be starting to turn, which would be good news for buyers and the market overall. More here.

There are two reasons home buyers typically have to pay more for a house on the water. The first is that people want to live on the water. It's a desirable location. Secondly, there are a limited number of houses with water access. And when you combine high demand and low supply, you usually have a recipe for higher prices. But new research shows that waterfront property isn't selling at as high a premium this year. In fact, waterfront homes in the first quarter sold for a 36 percent premium, which is the lowest level since 2002. By comparison, the average premium since 1996 is 41 percent and in 2012 the premium was as high as 54 percent. In other words, the difference in price between homes on the water and those further inland is lower than normal. But since having an ocean or lake view hasn't become any less desirable, what might be behind this trend? Well one explanation is that a lower overall number of homes for sale has helped raise prices for homes all over, which has narrowed the price gap between waterfront and inland homes. More here.

When it comes to deciding whether or not it's a good time for you to buy a house, your personal finances are a big factor. After all, feeling secure in your job, income, and debts can make taking on a large financial transaction far less stressful. For that reason, Fannie Mae's most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index may be encouraging news for the housing market. That's because, though confidence in most of the components – including whether this is a good time to buy or sell a home – was flat or down, those dealing with the direction of the economy and financial expectations for the next year were up. “Tight supply and lackluster income growth continue to weigh on housing activity, and consumer expectations for home price growth over the next 12 months have moderated,” Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's senior vice president and chief economist, said. “However, consumers expressed increased optimism about the direction of the economy and their personal financial situations over the next 12 months, with both measures matching previous survey highs this month” More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were down last week for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed rate loans. But despite falling rates, demand for mortgage applications remained flat, with refinance activity dropping 2 percent and purchase activity up just 1 percent from the week before. Michael Fratantoni, MBA's chief economist, told CNBC that, though a lower-than-normal number of homes for sale may be holding demand back, first-time buyers are still active. “A shortage of inventory remains a significant constraint, but it is interesting to note that applications for government purchase loans fared better on the week, indicating that first-time buyers remain in the market.” Government-insured FHA loans offer lower down payment requirements and are, therefore, more popular with younger buyers who may not have saved enough for a 20 percent down payment. The MBA's weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.