Picture this: a Realtor® walks into a new-home sales office, client in tow, ready to collaborate. The builder’s rep glances up from the desk, wary smile in place. Both sides want the same thing — a sold home — but the air crackles with tension. That moment, repeated across the country, defines one of housing’s […]
What Realtors really think about working with builders Read More »
With the average mortgage rate near 6%, US homebuyers are looking at the most affordable monthly payments in a year. But San Antonio real estate agent Tavyn Weyman knows how to get them lower — much lower. The trick is simple: buy new. In markets across the US, homebuilders sitting on unsold inventory are subsidizing
Homebuilders bet on 1% mortgage rates to wake up U.S. buyers Read More »
Publicly traded homebuilders were tested in the most recent quarter by slowing volume and political and economic factors, but proved resilient as they navigated through various challenges. Companies reported shrinking profits but still posted positive numbers, with falling mortgage rates providing some boost, even as consumer sentiment languishes. Although the cloud of tariff policies continues
Profits up while sales fall: How homebuilders did it Read More »
For years, policymakers and analysts have debated the reasons behind America’s worsening housing affordability crisis. Some point to zoning and land-use restrictions, others to construction bottlenecks or rising interest rates. But a growing body of research suggests a deeper, structural problem; wages simply haven’t kept up with the cost of living. That disconnect — according
The $79 trillion shift: How lost wages are fueling the housing crisis Read More »
Applications for new-home purchase mortgages ran ahead of last year’s pace in September, but various factors have the leading industry trade group preparing for a near-term slowdown. Purchase applications for new single-family properties increased 2% on a year-over-year basis last month, picking up some momentum after August’s flatter 1% rise, according to the Mortgage Bankers
New-home loan growth slows as builders anticipate a slowdown Read More »
Mortgage applications for new homes dipped in September from the previous month but remained higher than last year’s levels, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)’s Builder Application Survey released Thursday. The data offers a snapshot of housing demand at a time when market watchers are seeking clues about new-home sales amid the federal government
New-home mortgage applications dip in September Read More »
Swiftbuild.ai, a technology firm developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline government permitting, is drawing interest as federal officials call for faster homebuilding nationwide. The company’s main platform, SwiftGov, is designed to help local governments reform zoning and permitting systems while keeping sensitive municipal data on U.S. servers. Swiftbuild.ai’s offering comes as President Donald Trump
AI platform aims to tackle homebuilding bottlenecks Read More »
The US is now collecting tariffs on imported timber, lumber, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture, duties that threaten to raise the cost of renovations and deter new home purchases. The import taxes — initially set at 25% for cabinets, vanities and upholstered wooden furniture — officially took effect on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.
Trump’s lumber tariffs take hold, threatening to hike home costs Read More »
A group of homebuyers has filed a class action lawsuit against D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilding company, and its mortgage lending subsidiary, DHI Mortgage Co., alleging that the companies engaged in deceptive home-selling and mortgage practices that left buyers with unexpectedly high monthly payments. The lawsuit — filed Oct. 1 in the U.S. District
Homebuyers sue D.R. Horton for alleged deceptive lending Read More »
President Donald Trump called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to boost homebuilders and help “restore the American Dream” in a Truth Social post on Sunday. The president said large homebuilders are sitting on 2 million empty lots, and compared the situation to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries keeping oil prices high before
Trump calls on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to boost homebuilders Read More »