The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a higher open on Friday, with stocks likely to move to the upside after closing mixed for two consecutive sessions.Stocks may benefit from a positive reaction to the release of the Labor Department's closely watched report on employment in the month of December.With the report showing employment increased by less than expected in December, the data may generate optimism about the outlook for interest rates.The Labor Department said non-farm payroll emp ...

"好房子"成了当下热词。"建设安全舒适绿色智慧的'好房子'""实施房屋品质提升工程"写进了"十五 五"规划建议。中央经济工作会议要求，"有序推动'好房子'建设"。如何推动"好房子"建设？怎样开展房 屋品质提升工程？住房和城乡建设部正在公开征求意见的《关于提升住房品质的意见（征求意见稿）》 为建设"好房子"和实施房屋品质提升工程提供了更加清晰的思路。 当前，"好房子"建设已起步成势。好的经验做法和惠民实用技术正在积极推广，我们离"好房子"越来越 近。 原标题：评论：房屋品质提升工程该如何推进 住房运维服务水平还有很大提升空间。我国将建立住房全生命周期安全管理长效机制，全面提升房屋安 全保障水平，这意味着我们居住的房子将更安全。"十五五"规划建议提出，实施物业服务质量提升行 动。物业服务内容将持续拓展，将走进家庭，物业服务企业可以提供养老、托幼、助餐、家政等生活服 务。居民对居住服务的需求不断增多，对服务品质的要求持续提升，物业服务领域有广阔发展空间。 老房子也要改造成"好房子"。我国将稳步推进城中村和危旧房改造，持续开展城镇老旧小区改造，统筹 推动既有住房节能改造。还将加快建设完整社区。将推进燃气、供水、供热、 ...

意见提出的主要目标是：到2030年，房屋品质提升工程取得显著进展，住房标准、设计、材料、建造、 运维水平大幅提升，保障性住房率先建成"好房子"，商品住房更好满足刚性和改善性需求，老房子改造 为"好房子"取得明显进展，形成有效支撑住房品质提升的政策体系、标准体系、技术体系和产业体系。 （来源：衢州日报） 转自：衢州日报 新华社北京1月1日电 （记者 王优玲） 住房城乡建设部近日发布关于提升住房品质的意见，要求以让人 民群众住上更好的房子为目标，实施房屋品质提升工程，兼顾增量建设与存量更新，完善标准规范，强 化科技赋能，加强工程质量管理，加大安全舒适绿色智慧的"好房子"供给，为构建房地产发展新模式提 供坚实支撑。 意见提出八项重点任务，包括完善住房建设标准，提升建筑设计水平，推广应用好材料，发展新型建造 方式，提升运维服务水平，推动既有住房更新改造，强化科技赋能，完善产业支撑。 在加强组织实施方面，意见要求，要建立健全工作机制，因地制宜实施房屋品质提升工程，用好城市更 新和构建房地产发展新模式等支持政策，持续加大"好房子"推动力度。要引导企业加快推进满足市场需 求的住房项目建设落地。 ...

Group 1 - Beijing has completed its annual target of constructing 50,000 rental housing units and finishing 80,000 various types of affordable housing by the end of October [1] - The second batch of affordable housing construction plans includes 17 projects, providing a total of 19,780 housing units, with 10 rental housing projects offering 9,968 units and 7 resettlement housing projects providing 9,812 units [1][3] - The total number of affordable housing units planned for completion this year is 2,366, all of which are rental housing projects [4] Group 2 - The focus of the new batch of affordable housing projects is on rental housing, with a significant increase in supply for young talents and specific groups, with rental housing products making up 98% of the total, including 40% dormitory-type units [5] - The project in the Economic Development Zone aims to provide 2,390 units for blue-collar workers, enhancing the living conditions for technical workers [5] - Other projects in Changping and Shunyi districts are designed to support local enterprises by providing housing for employees, with a total of 2,235 units available in Shunyi [5]

Core Insights - The podcast "Can I Stay? Rural, Remote, and Ready to Build" focuses on community-led innovations addressing Canada's housing crisis, particularly in rural and Indigenous areas [1][3][4] - The initiative is supported by Foresight Canada and funded by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), highlighting the importance of grassroots solutions in overcoming systemic barriers [2][11] Group 1: Podcast Overview - The podcast is hosted by Lindsay Blair and Candace Larsen, featuring stories from community leaders and experts involved in the $300 million CMHC Housing Supply Challenge [2][3] - Each episode provides firsthand accounts of the housing crisis, emphasizing the need for innovative financing and community-driven approaches to tackle the national housing deficit [3][4] Group 2: Episode Highlights - Episode 1 introduces personal stories from individuals affected by the housing crisis, setting the stage for the challenges faced in rural Ontario [4] - Episode 2 discusses systemic challenges in housing development, including issues like "drag-and-drop" homes and bureaucratic red tape, featuring insights from local leaders [5] Group 3: Organizations Involved - Rural Impact Canada aims to unlock development potential in small municipalities by addressing challenges such as infrastructure, providing guidance for implementing housing solutions [7] - One Bowl Housing Corporation focuses on Indigenous-led housing solutions, utilizing local materials and technology to create affordable, culturally appropriate homes while fostering local employment [8]

Group 1: Housing Market Overview - New home sales in August increased by over 20% month-over-month, indicating strong demand and a potential turning point for the housing market [1] - Mortgage rates below 6.64% and down to 6% have historically led to improved housing data, with recent purchase application data showing the best performance in eight weeks [2] - The stability of mortgage rates around 6% is crucial for the growth of housing permits and starts, as fluctuations above 7% have historically dampened demand [3][4] Group 2: Builder Dynamics - Publicly traded builders are managing to maintain gross margins despite challenges, while smaller builders face greater risks due to recent job losses in residential construction [7] - Builders are currently focused on selling completed units, which are at historically low levels, prompting a pullback in construction activity [9][10] - The efficiency of builders in selling products contrasts with the existing home sales market, which involves more complex negotiations between sellers and buyers [9] Group 3: Labor Market Implications - The recent surge in single-family home sales occurs amidst a backdrop of job losses in manufacturing and residential construction, raising concerns about the labor market [11][12] - The ability to grow housing permits is essential for stabilizing the labor market related to single-family homes, emphasizing the importance of duration in housing data [12][13] - The current low mortgage rates are attributed to a softer labor market, highlighting the interconnectedness of these economic factors [13]

Core Insights - Sol Spaces, a portfolio company of Visionstate Corp., is experiencing significant growth by addressing the increasing demand for local food security and sustainable housing solutions [1][2][7] Group 1: Greenhouse Technology - In 2025, Sol Spaces achieved its best year to date, completing more greenhouse projects than ever and shipping its first greenhouse kit, which expands its addressable market across North America [2] - The greenhouses feature advanced technology such as solar-powered venting systems and energy-efficient heat recapturing systems, enhancing climate resiliency and reducing reliance on external energy sources [3][8] - New community greenhouse projects, including collaborations with the University of Alberta, are being developed to promote sustainable growing practices [3][5] Group 2: Housing Opportunities - Sol Spaces is exploring the use of modern backyard studios as rentable dwellings, aligning with the Government of Canada's national housing plan aimed at increasing affordable housing supply [4][9] - The company is positioned to expand beyond sustainable food production into affordable housing infrastructure, creating multiple growth avenues [6][9] - Sol Spaces' initiatives in both food security and affordable housing are seen as scalable solutions that can have a lasting impact [7][9] Group 3: Strategic Positioning - Visionstate Corp. owns 40% of Sol Spaces Inc. through convertible debentures, positioning itself for value creation in two high-demand markets: climate-resilient food security solutions and affordable housing [7][10] - The combination of intelligent design and climate-resilient technology differentiates Sol Spaces in the market, allowing it to address critical societal challenges [3][8]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates, impacting the housing market and mortgage rates [1][5] - Despite lower mortgage rates, housing affordability remains a significant issue due to high house prices and stagnant incomes [2][6] - Building permits are declining, indicating potential economic slowdown and increased recession risks [10][11] Housing Market - Current mortgage rates are around 6.4%, influenced by expectations of further Fed rate cuts [5] - Affordability issues persist, with high house prices and limited inventory affecting potential homebuyers [2][6] - Refinancing is not appealing for most homeowners unless mortgage rates drop into the 5% range [7][8] Economic Indicators - Building permits are a leading indicator of economic activity, and their decline suggests reduced home construction and economic activity [11][12] - The risk of recession is assessed at 40-45%, with building permits and job market stagnation contributing to this outlook [14][15] - The job market is currently stalled, with no net new job creation, particularly affecting younger workers [17][19] Federal Reserve and Policy Concerns - The Fed's interest rate cuts are a response to a weakening job market, with concerns about employment risks [16][20] - Tariffs and restrictive immigration policies are identified as root causes of economic troubles, impacting various industries [21][22] - The independence of the Federal Reserve is crucial for maintaining a stable economy and financial system [22][23]

Core Insights - The "Jiulong·Chenxi" project in Chongqing's Jiulongpo District has launched its first round of applications for affordable housing, targeting families without homes in the area [1][4] - The project aims to meet the housing needs of the working-income group with a favorable location and pricing [1] Project Overview - The project covers a total area of 29.38 acres and will consist of four 24-story buildings, offering 552 prefabricated residential units, including 276 two-bedroom (75 square meters) and 276 three-bedroom (99 square meters) apartments [3] - It includes 472 parking spaces and has a floor area ratio of 2.5 [3] - The design features a three-elevator, six-household layout with a comfortable ceiling height of three meters, located approximately 500 meters from the nearest metro stations [3] Community and Infrastructure - The project is adjacent to the China (Chongqing) Free Trade Zone and surrounded by multiple industrial parks, facilitating local employment and a "15-minute work-life balance" [3] - It incorporates advanced concepts such as green building, prefabricated construction, and sponge city design, with features like a photovoltaic power generation system and smart community management [3] Pricing and Eligibility - The pricing range for the project is set between 7,189 and 7,739 yuan per square meter, significantly lower than the prices of commercial housing in the same area [4] - Eligible applicants include local residents without homes, individuals who have paid social insurance in the district for over six months, and recognized talents within the area [4] - The first application round runs from September 9 to October 8, 2023, with subsequent rounds planned for families with low per capita living space [4]

Core Viewpoint - Boxabl Inc. has signed a definitive merger agreement with FG Merger II Corp, marking a significant step towards becoming a publicly listed company on Nasdaq under the symbol "BXBL" [1][6] Company Overview - Boxabl is focused on transforming the housing market with modular building systems aimed at delivering affordable, high-quality homes quickly. Its flagship product, the Casita, is a 361 square foot studio unit that can be set up in less than an hour [5] - The company has raised over $230 million from over 50,000 investors, indicating strong interest in its innovative housing solutions [1][5] Merger Details - The merger will involve FG Merger II Corp issuing 350 million shares to Boxabl, valuing the company at $3.5 billion. Existing shareholders of Boxabl will roll 100% of their equity into the combined entity [7] - The transaction does not include a minimum cash condition, which may facilitate a smoother merger process [7] Leadership and Future Plans - Boxabl will continue to be led by its founders and Co-CEOs, Paolo and Galiano Tiramani, post-merger. The merger is expected to enhance Boxabl's production capabilities and allow for increased investment in research and development [2][7] - The partnership with FG Merger II Corp is seen as a strategic move to access greater capital and expand Boxabl's platform for delivering affordable housing solutions at scale [2]