Crisis watch

- If you're worried about a housing crisis, the most important data to watch will include the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data on mortgage delinquencies, as well as housing data that tends to lead other activity, like housing starts and building permits. Plus, looking for dynamics across the economy that matter, like the strength or weakness of the job market, can be very important for giving you indications as to whether risks lie ahead. As with all markets, housing markets are local markets, and even if things look fine at the national level, you could still have regional or localized crises, and it's important to keep an eye on the local data that show any relevant information about delinquencies of mortgages, as well as what the home building and home sale price look like in your area. For a further discussion of these topics, I recommend checking out my LinkedIn Learning course on weekly economic indicators. That series includes a number of videos talking explicitly about different macroeconomic data related to housing that can give you an indication of strength or weakness so that you are informed and prepared for whether the housing market strengthens or is going into a crisis.