Housing Market
Housing is downstream of rates. Our housing coverage tracks home price indices, active listings, days-on-market, buyer traffic, and regional divergence.
We report on Case-Shiller, FHFA HPI, NAR existing-home sales, Census new-home data, and lender/agent reporting from active markets.
Latest Housing Market coverage
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…
A $10,000 Seller Credit and a $10,000 Price Cut Are Not the Same Deal
Equal headline dollars land in different places. A credit lowers what you bring to closing; a price cut lowers the loan and the monthly payment. Here is how buyers can compare them.
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…
Builders Turn to Rate Buydowns and Price Cuts as Affordability Pressures Persist
Home builders are increasingly using mortgage rate buydowns, price cuts and other incentives to keep buyers engaged as elevated mortgage rates continue to strain affordability. With 63% of builders o…
UWM Brokers Report Business as Usual After $2.05 Billion Capital Plan
Excerpt: Mortgage brokers say UWM’s day-to-day operations remain steady following its $2.05 billion capital plan and second-quarter loss, with no major disruption reported in underwriting, processing…
Freddie Mac Sets 6.625% Mortgage Modification Rate for Aug. 14
Freddie Mac will raise its mortgage modification interest rate to 6.625% effective Aug. 14, 2026. The benchmark plays a key role in certain Flex Modification calculations for eligible distressed borr…
UWM Originates $39.7 Billion in Q2 as Revenue Rises 17% and Gain Margin Expands
United Wholesale Mortgage originated $39.7 billion in loans during the second quarter of 2026 as revenue rose 17% and gain margins expanded. Despite a $451.9 million GAAP net loss driven largely by i…
NAR: Home Prices Rise in 80% of U.S. Metro Areas Despite Higher Mortgage Rates
Home prices continued to climb across most U.S. housing markets during the second quarter of 2026, reinforcing homeowner equity gains while leaving affordability a challenge for many prospective buye…
Higher Mortgage Rates Begin to Cool Housing Demand Despite Positive Home Sales
The housing market remains resilient, with pending home sales still edging above last year's levels. However, rising mortgage rates are beginning to slow buyer demand, highlighting the growing afford…
New Home Sales Edge Higher in June 2026 as Prices Fall and Inventory Remains Elevated
he U.S. housing market showed modest improvement in June 2026 as new home sales increased slightly from May, but activity remained below last year's pace. Builders continued to offer buyers more choi…
Housing Affordability Improves Despite Record Home Prices as Wages Outpace Price Growth
Home prices reached another all-time high in June, but housing affordability unexpectedly improved compared to one year ago. The reason isn't that homes became cheaper—it's that incomes grew faster t…
Housing Market Rebalances as Buyers Gain Ground: Inventory, Sales, and Prices Point to a More Balanced Market
The U.S. housing market continued shifting toward balance in June, according to exclusive Homes.com data. Inventory increased, home sales strengthened, and national home price appreciation remained m…
New housing law targets affordability — what it means for homebuyers and sellers
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act automatically became law on Saturday after President Donald Trump neither signed it nor vetoed it within a set timeframe. The legislation combines dozens of housi…
Congress has a chance to expand affordable homeownership. It shouldn’t waste it.
Policy gaps on zoning, Duty to Serve chattel loans and DOE standards keep costs high for buyers.
AI Can Estimate a Home’s Value, But Can It Price a Deal? Real Estate Leaders Say Not So Fast
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how consumers buy and sell homes, but real estate leaders warn that AI-generated pricing advice still lacks the market intuition, local expertise, and huma…
Why Single Women Are Becoming One of the Most Powerful Groups in Homebuying.
Single women are becoming one of the strongest forces in today’s housing market, outpacing single men and reshaping what modern homeownership looks like. Here’s why this trend matters for buyers, len…
White House Pushes for More Homebuilding to Ease Housing Shortage
The White House is pushing for increased home construction to combat the housing shortage, but rising costs, labor constraints, and regulatory hurdles could limit how quickly new supply comes online.