Millennials – those born between 1979 and 1991 – are more diverse, technology-driven, and tend to trust their instincts more so than previous generations.

Despite media reports of a sour real estate market, Millennials still are optimistic with their views about homeownership, according to Wells Fargo, which surveyed more than 3,000 Americans to discover their attitudes about homeownership. In the survey, Wells Fargo found that millennials even responded favorably to more rigorous credit requirements, saying they found them beneficial to their goal of remaining in a home once they buy.

The millennial generation consists of about 51.5 million potential first-time homebuyers, the Wells Fargo study says – which is 6 million more than the baby boomers who reached homebuying age in 1977.

Brad Blackwell, executive vice president at Wells Fargo, says the wave of Millennials will be the new lifeblood for the industry.

“We’re going to have to figure out how to reach them,” Blackwell says.

Source: “Wells Fargo study finds new kind of homebuyer on the way: Millennials,” HousingWire.com (March 25, 2011)

U.S. forecasters are wondering if America can make history and extend its luck into 2011. If so, it would be the first time ever that the U.S. escaped a major hurricane for six years.

“That would be a record I would like to break,” said Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

All told, 19 named storms formed in the Atlantic, tying with the 1887 and 1995 seasons for third highest on record. Twelve became hurricanes, tying with the 1969 season for the second highest on record.

In the U.S., Texas suffered the worst of the tropical weather.

Flooding spurred by Tropical Storm Hermine was blamed for the deaths of at least seven people in Texas. Hurricane Alex damaged or destroyed more than 300 homes in Texas and caused an estimated $42 million in damage to infrastructure.

Aside from that, Tropical Storm Bonnie sent crews working to stop the flow of oil from a blown-out rig in the Gulf of Mexico into a fury. And Hurricane Earl brought flooding to North Carolina’s Outer Banks and some rain to Cape Cod, but little damage.

“Fortunately most storms avoided the U.S.,” said Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service. “You could say the season was a gentle giant.”

Not so elsewhere, though.

Hurricane Tomas killed 14 people in St. Lucia and at least eight in Haiti. Hurricane Alex caused flooding that killed 12 people in Mexico. Hurricane Igor knocked out power to half of Bermuda but spared the country major damage or injuries.

A persistent low-pressure system through the height of hurricane season is credited with the U.S. escaping major harm. The western edge of the high-pressure system that drove tropical weather from the coast of Africa was eroded by the low pressure, and ultimately helped propel it away from the U.S. shore.

“That’s not an unusual pattern at all,” Feltgen said, “and we’re fortunate that it was in place at the height of the season.”

The last major hurricane of Category 3 or stronger to hit the U.S. was Wilma in 2005.

Online: National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press, Matt Sedensky.