A healthy economy, strong consumer confidence levels and low mortgage rates are driving buyer demand. While housing starts were up 3.9% in 1H 2017, the inventory of new and existing homes remained relatively unchanged from year end and both remain well below what is deemed a normal supply level of six months. The combination of low supply and strong buyer demand are pushing home prices to record highs. M&A activity continued at a brisk pace in 1H 2017; however, the number of transactions was down from 2H 2016, which recorded the highest level of M&A activity since the recession.