Happy New Year 2025

Tag: lowest

  • Border arrests hit lowest mark since last time Trump was in office

    Border arrests hit lowest mark since last time Trump was in office

    Apprehensions at the U.S. southern border hit a low mark not seen since the last time President Donald Trump was in office.

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended just 29,116 illegal immigrants along the southern border during the month of January, down from 47,000 in December and hitting a low mark not seen since May 2020, when 32,349 arrests were made at ports of entry, according to a White House press release.

    Overall, CBP apprehended 61,465 illegal immigrants at the southern border in January, down 36% from the prior month, the release notes, citing new CP data.

    NEW CARTEL THREATS AGAINST BORDER AGENTS: EXPLOSIVES, DRONES AND WIRELESS TRACKING

    The situation on the border turned markedly with the change of administration. (Getty Images)

    The numbers, which were shared with ABC News, shifted even more dramatically after Trump took office, with apprehensions falling 85% between Jan. 21 and 31, an 85% reduction from the same time period in 2024.

    The numbers continue a string of news showing reductions in attempted border crossings under Trump, including a Fox News report last week that revealed the daily average of known gotaways – illegal immigrants who enter the U.S. while avoiding arrest – have fallen to just 132 per day since the beginning of February, at 93% reduction from the highs seen under former President Joe Biden.

    Trump talking to Border Patrol chief at border wall

    President Donald Trump speaks with Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott along the border wall in San Luis, Arizona, June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

    BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO STOP WEARING BODY CAMERAS AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA POST REVEALS ‘SECURITY RISK’

    The improving numbers at the border seemingly began in the first few days of the Trump administration, including a 35% reduction in Border Patrol encounters during the first three days of the new administration compared to the final three days under Biden.

    Biden walking with border officials along border wall

    President Joe Biden speaks with a member of the Border Patrol as they walk along the US-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “During the previous administration, the average number of illegal aliens encountered at the southern border in January was 141,710 – the result of dangerous policies that ferried illegal aliens directly into our communities, where they were allowed to stay indefinitely,” reads the White House release. “Now, under President Trump, illegal border crossings are at record lows as illegal aliens are promptly arrested and sent home.”

    Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.

  • Existing home sales fall to lowest level in nearly 30 years

    Existing home sales fall to lowest level in nearly 30 years

    The Connor Group founder and managing partner discusses what needs to happen to unleash the housing market and the impact of regulations on rebuilding California following the wildfires.

    Existing home sales in the U.S. in 2024 were the lowest in nearly 30 years, as home prices hit an all-time high.

    The National Association of Realtors released data that showed existing home sales declined to the lowest level since 1995 last year, with 4.06 million homes sold on an annual basis.

    Meanwhile, the median home price rose to a record high of $407,500 in 2024.

    “With mortgage rates close to 7% and generally soft homebuying sentiment, strength in existing home sales is unlikely to be sustained,” said Alice Zheng, an economist at Citigroup. “We do not expect much further upside for housing demand near-term.”

    HOW EXTREME WEATHER, HIGH HOME PRICES COULD AFFECT THE 2025 HOUSING MARKET

    Existing home sales fell to the lowest level in nearly 30 years in 2024. (iStock / iStock)

    Existing home sales did show signs of rising in the closing months of 2024, rising 2.2% from November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million in December. Year-over-year, sales were up 9.3% from an annual rate of 3.88 million in December 2023.

    “Home sales in the final months of the year showed solid recovery despite elevated mortgage rates,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. 

    “Home sales during the winter are typically softer than the spring and summer, but momentum is rising with sales climbing year-over-year for three straight months,” Yun said. “Consumers clearly understand the long-term benefits of homeownership. Job and wage gains, along with increased inventory, are positively impacting the market.”

    HOUSING SUPPLY JUMPS TO 4-YEAR HIGH – BUT IT’S NOT ALL GREAT NEWS

    Existing home sales increased on an annual basis in all four regions analyzed by the NAR, while prices also increased in each of the four regions. 

    Sales were up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis – the largest gain since June 2021, which was mostly driven by transactions for housing valued at over $500,000.

    TOP HOUSING MARKETS FOR 2025 REVEALED IN NEW FORECAST

    home with for sale sign

    Elevated mortgage rates have chilled the housing market. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

    The median home price for existing homes was $404,400 – an increase of 6% from $381,400 a year ago.

    “The median home price was elevated partly due to the upper-end market’s relative better performance,” Yun said. “Sales rose by 35% from a year ago for homes priced above $1 million, while sales fell for homes priced under $250,000.”

    GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

    First-time homebuyers accounted for 31% of home sales in December, up from 30% in November and 29% in December 2023.

    NAR’s “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” that was released in November found that the annual share of first-time home buyers was 24%, the lowest ever recorded.

    Reuters contributed to this report.