More home shoppers purchased newly constructed homes in November, bringing new-home sales to their best three-month performance since 2007, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Monday. Economists credit low mortgage rates, low unemployment, and strong income growth for the sales uptick.

Sales of new single-family homes increased 1.3% to an annualized pace of 719,000 in November. “Fueled by the limited number of resales available for purchase, low interest rates, and low unemployment, new home sales are finishing the year strong,” says Greg Ugalde, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. New-home sales are running 10% higher than in 2018. Plus, builder confidence is high, indexes show, which bodes well for 2020, adds NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

Low inventory of new homes, however, continues to put pressure on prices. The median sales price of a new home rose 7.2% compared to a year ago, reaching $330,800 in November. Inventory of new homes stand at a 5.4-month supply. There are 323,000 new single-family homes for sale (but just 76,000 are completed and ready to occupy).

New home sales are performing strongest in the South, up 14.5% from a year ago in November, followed by a 12% increase in the West. In the Northeast and Midwest, meanwhile, new-home sales are down 10.4% and 7.6%, respectively.

Inventory remains a pressing issue for the overall housing market in both the new-home and existing-home markets. Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®, says that housing starts are short by 135,000 compared to the long-term average—and well short of the 5 million to 6 million that is needed to fully end the housing shortage.

“More home construction appears to be on the way as we move into 2020, as reflected in the very high confidence of home builders,” Yun said last week. “They are clearly recognizing an improving business opportunity. Overall, more construction will mean more housing inventory to choose from for consumers. Home sales can then easily rise while taming the fast growth in home prices.”

Last week, NAR also released a report that showed sales of previously owned homes fell in November, likely due to inventory constraints. Yun said existing-home sales likely will be “choppy when inventory levels are low,” but a strong economy should help keep demand strong.

Off-trend may become the new trend in interior home design in the new year. Bigger, bolder statements are coming in favor over all-white or neutral interiors. Forbes.com recently interviewed interior and furniture designers to find out the hottest looks they expect to emerge over the next decade.

Statement lighting. Lighting fixtures aren’t just for brightening a room; they also make a bold statement. You don’t need to add in extra wiring to add lights, either. “This is exactly why wall sconces with optional wire guard will become increasingly available,” Forbes.com reports. “These accents are ideal for anyone who wants to invest in statement lighting without the commitment to hardwiring.

Color transforms as the new neutral. Neutral color schemes are being pushed aside for warmer and more saturated hues. “Tiles, cabinetry, and walls all serve as opportunities for more color,” Christina Coop, co-founder of Hygge & West, told Forbes.com. Expect shades of pink to become more popular in the new year, as well as greens and blues.

Dolley Levan Frearson, co-founder of High Fashion Home, told Forbes.com that she predicts soft peachy corals and terra cotta—“colors that feel soft yet grounded in earth tones”—to also trend. “I also love golden yellow tones in lush fabrics like velvets to buttery, caramel leathers or leather-look,” she adds.

Patterns everywhere. Layered patterns likely will grow in popularity in 2020 and beyond. Expect to see more patterns in tabletop and textile designs. “We’ll be seeing more pattern mixing with color, tying together patterns of varying origin and scale,” Coop told Forbes.com. “Pattern matching, where the same pattern flows from the wall to upholstered furniture or bedding, is also becoming more common.”

Standout trims and ceiling. High-contrast design is emerging. It gives an “otherwise more monochromatic room a crispness and a fresher take on neutrals,” Kelley Mason, stylist at Lulu & Georgia, told Forbes.com. “Bold black and white feels fresh yet timeless, especially in graphic or art deco-inspired patterns.” Colorful trim is one way to achieve this, such as high gloss black colored trim against a monotone wall color. Also, wallpaper on the ceiling can add high design to a space.

Americans are boosting their credit scores, which bodes well for applicants seeking a mortgage to snag the lowest rates. The average credit score hit its highest level since 2011, reaching 682–two points higher than a year ago, Experian reports in its State of Credit report. Consumers also are taking on more mortgage debt than a year ago, and delinquency rates are decreasing too.

“We’re seeing a promising trend in terms of how Americans are managing their credit as we head into a new decade,” says Shannon Lois, Experian’s head of analytics, consulting, and operations. “Average credit card balances and debt are up year over year, yet utilization rates remain consistent at 30 percent, indicating consumers are using credit as a financial tool and managing their debts responsibly.”

Comparing borrowing behaviors between genders, women’s average credit scores are four points higher than men’s (686 vs. 682, respectively). Men tend to carry more mortgage debt than women–$220,421 compared to $203,603.

By generation, Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers tend to carry more debt than older generations. They also tend to have higher delinquency rates, the Experian study shows. Here’s a breakdown showing their average credit scores and mortgage debts:

Generation Z

• Average credit score: 641
• Mortgage debt: $159,677

Millennials

• Average credit score: 647
• Mortgage debt: $222,924

Gen X

• Average credit score: 665
• Mortgage debt: $243,430

Baby boomer

• Average credit score: 710
• Mortgage debt: $193,894

Silent generation

• Average credit score: 731
• Mortgage debt: $162,162

By state, the five states with the highest average credit scores, according to Experian, are:

1. Minnesota: 715
2. Vermont: 708
3. South Dakota: 707
4. New Hampshire: 707
5. Massachusetts: 705

Meanwhile, the states with the lowest average credit scores are Mississippi (652) and Louisiana (654).

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.73%, unchanged from a week ago, Freddie Mac reports.

“The economy continued to pick up momentum with a solid increase in residential construction, improvement in industrial output in our nation’s factories and a rise in job openings,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “While the economy is in a sweet spot, improvements in housing market sales volumes will be modest heading into next year simply due to the lack of available inventory.”

Indeed, the National Association of REALTORS®’ Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said home sales could be “choppy when inventory levels are low,” but he noted that the economy is otherwise performing very well and buyer demand remains high. NAR released its existing-home sales report on Thursday, which showed sales slipped by 1.7% month over month in November. Read more: November Sales Slip Not Indicative of Larger Trend

Freddie Mac reported the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Dec. 19:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.73%, with an average 0.7 point, unchanged from last week. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.62%.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.19%, with an average 0.7 point, unchanged from last week. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 4.07%.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.37%, with an average 0.4 point, rising from last week’s 3.36% average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.98%.