“While respondents remain discouraged by the pandemic-era run-up in home prices and mortgage rates, the upward trend in homebuying sentiment in 2024 may reflect a slow acclimatization to the generally less-affordable market conditions," the release noted.

Existing-home sales were higher in December, but still came in at their lowest levels since 1995. Economists see positive trends that could continue into 2025.

U.S. existing home sales increased to a 10-month high in December, but further gains are likely to be limited by elevated mortgage rates and house prices, which are keeping many prospective buyers on the sidelines.

Tesla launched a refreshed version of its best-selling Model Y in the US and Europe as the company looks to reverse its first annual sales decline in over a decade.

Tesla's Chinese market share is strong — but not as strong as the hold the California-born, Texas-based EV startup has on the U.S. car market. According to data from Cox Automotive, Tesla's Model Y was the best-selling EV in the domestic market last year by a wide margin (and one of the best-selling passenger vehicles overall) — and now,