Housing Market
Pending Home Sales Drop 7.3% as Higher Rates Challenge Fall Buyers
September signed contracts fell in every region, while completed sales rose 1.5%. NAR’s reports measure different transaction stages, underscoring the need to compare local conditions and full financ…
Single-Family Building Permits Slide to 845,000 as September Housing Pipeline Cools
The Census Bureau reports September single-family permits at an 845,000 annual rate, down 4.0% from August. Total housing starts fell to 1.221 million, but wide confidence intervals caution against r…
Builder confidence falls to 29 in October, lowest since 2012, NAHB says
The NAHB/Wells Fargo index fell three points as 43% of builders cut prices and 65% used incentives. It is a builder survey, not a sales count or a mortgage rate.
Burleson Studios opens in Austin with 104 supportive homes backed by FHLB Dallas grant
A $1.56 million Affordable Housing Program grant through Wells Fargo helped fund the Foundation Communities property for people exiting chronic homelessness.
NAHB: construction labor shortages widen in September survey
NAHB’s Oct. 14 research release reports a higher average shortage share across nine tracked trades. The September survey does not say 47% of construction workers are missing.
Zillow's September rental-demand index rises 19.2% from a year earlier
Zillow’s Oct. 15 report shows stronger rental-listing engagement in September. Its demand index measures attention, not signed leases or a count of households.
MBA: September new-home mortgage applications fall 8.3% from a year earlier
MBA’s Oct. 15 release reports unadjusted September application declines. Its separate 584,000 annualized sales estimate is a model, not a Census count.
Realtor.com: September asking rents fall 0.4%, with large local differences
The October 15 report puts the median asking rent at $1,694 across the 50 largest metros. National easing does not describe every renter’s options.
Redfin: Asking prices fall 0.3% as more sellers cut their price
Redfin’s October 15 report shows asking prices below a year earlier, while completed sale prices remain slightly higher. Buyers still face expensive financing.
New-Home Sales Estimate Rises 6.4%. Look Beyond the Advertised Rate.
August’s preliminary sales increase is not conclusive. For new-home buyers and their loan officers, the useful next step is comparing the full price and financing package.
Fed Beige Book: Housing and Mortgage Demand Uneven Across Districts
Contacts in several Federal Reserve districts said higher mortgage rates slowed home sales in September, while others reported steadier or improving activity.
Fannie Mae's October Outlook Cuts 2027 Home Sales and Origination Forecasts
Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research group now projects a higher 2027 mortgage rate path, fewer home sales and lower single-family originations than it did in September.
Luxury Listing Threshold Falls 3.6% to $1.2 Million, 30th Straight Annual Decline, Realtor.com Says
Realtor.com said Oct. 14 that the asking price marking the top 10% of U.S. listings was $1,199,321 in September, down 3.6% from a year earlier and the lowest since January 2023.
Shelter Costs Rose 0.4% in September as Inflation Hit 3.7%, BLS Says
The Labor Department said Oct. 14 that its shelter index rose 0.4% in September and 3.2% from a year earlier. Rent rose 0.2% for the month, while gasoline drove much of the 0.6% overall increase.
Existing-Home Sales Rise 1.5% in September to 3.99 Million as Inventory Climbs
NAR said Oct. 13 that September sales edged up to a 3.99 million annual pace, still down 2.2% from a year ago, while inventory reached 1.60 million homes and the median price rose 1.3% to $417,500.
Redfin: Pending Home Sales Fall to Lowest Level Since 2014, Outside April 2020
Redfin's Oct. 12 report says September pending sales fell 4% from August, the largest monthly drop in more than three years, as mortgage rates moved above 7%.
Zillow: A $100,000 Income Can Afford 77% of Rentals, Versus 31% at the Typical Renter Income
Zillow Research, publishing Oct. 7, found a $2,500 monthly budget covers 77% of 2026 rental listings and buys nearly 20% more space, though the result varies widely by metro.
Aging Homes Could Complicate the Coming Generational Housing Shift
Realtor.com projects 13.9 million homes occupied by older owners will change hands by 2036. Oct. 9 reporting notes the U.S. already loses an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 units a year to deterioration…
Kenosha Leads September's Hottest Housing Markets
Realtor.com's September ranking, published Oct. 9, puts Kenosha, Wis., at No. 1. The top 20 split evenly between the Midwest and the Northeast.
Redfin Models a Five-Year Path Back to Normal Housing Costs
A Redfin analysis published Oct. 8 says U.S. housing costs could return to August 2018 levels within about five years if rates fall to 6%, with timelines that vary widely by rate, price growth and me…
Fed: Revolving Credit Fell in August as Card Rates Stayed Near 21%
The Federal Reserve's G.19 report, released Oct. 7, shows consumer credit grew at a 1.9% annual rate in August. Revolving credit fell at a 4.2% rate while car and student loans grew.
HUD Lays Out Seven-Step Plan to Update the HUD Code for Chassis-Free Manufactured Homes
HUD's Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan, released Oct. 7, outlines energy standards, chassis-free construction and installation updates, and a multifamily performance code. Rules are n…
Zillow: Newly Pending Home Sales Fell 8.5% in September as Payments Rose 6.7%
Zillow's September report, released Oct. 6, shows contract signings falling faster than closed sales while home values rose just 1%. Rents posted their biggest annual gain since April 2025.
HUD Highlights Factory-Built and 3D-Printed Homes From Its 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase
HUD's Oct. 6 regional releases spotlight a chassis-free manufactured home, a two-story manufactured prototype and a 3D-printed tiny home shown on the National Mall Sept. 22-24. Cost savings at scale…
One in Five Listings Got a Price Cut. Buyers Still Need to Check the Math
Realtor.com says 20.8% of active listings had a September price reduction. Buyers should test the new ask against closed sales, financing costs, time on market and concessions.
September Hiring Slows to 29,000 as Housing Construction Shows a Split Picture
U.S. hiring slowed sharply in September, while construction employment revealed a divide between nonresidential trades and residential specialty contractors.
Non-Agency MBS Share Hits 12.2% as Private-Label Securitization Jumps 44%
Private-label mortgage securitization is accelerating in 2026, with first-lien PLS volume up 44% year over year and non-agency securities accounting for 12.2% of RMBS issuance, according to the Urban…
Sellers Outnumber Buyers by 51% as Housing Market Shifts Further in Buyers’ Favor
Sellers outnumbered buyers by 51.3% nationally in July, according to Redfin. The number of estimated buyers fell 2.5% from June to 966,752, the lowest level in Redfin's records. There were approximat…
Fed Minutes Put Rate Hikes Back in Focus as Mortgage Rates Hover Near 6.7%
Federal Reserve minutes from the July meeting revealed growing concern about inflation and broader support for tighter monetary policy. With mortgage rates still near 6.7%, borrowers and lenders are…
Mortgage Rates Hold Near 6.7% as Homebuyers Face Renewed Affordability Pressure
Mortgage rates remain near 6.7%, keeping monthly payments elevated as home prices stay near record highs. With pending sales and purchase applications weakening, buyers are once again feeling the squ…