US homebuilders’ confidence barely rose this month as they struggled to lure cautious buyers off the sidelines with costly sales incentives. An index of market conditions from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo ticked up 1 point in November to 38. A value below 50 means more builders see conditions as poor […]
US homebuilder sentiment barely rises despite price cuts Read More »
Home Depot Inc. cut its full-year earnings guidance, warning that some unsteady consumers are hitting the pause button on big-ticket home purchases. The world’s largest home-improvement retailer said it expects adjusted earnings per share to decline 5% from a year ago, lower than its previous forecast. The company said its profit and comparable sales came
Home Depot cuts forecast on weak demand for big-ticket items Read More »
Last week was a solid week for housing demand. Our weekly pending sales data increased by 15.36% year over year, and the Mortgage Bankers Association‘s purchase application data showed 31% year-over-year growth. In fact, if I average the last two weeks, purchase application data is up 28.5% year over year and our weekly pending home
Despite economic uncertainty, weekly housing demand up double digits over 2024 Read More »
After a year of easing mortgage rates and slightly improved affordability, the U.S. housing market heads into 2026 with expectations for steady, if uneven, progress. First American deputy chief economist Odeta Kushi said a broader reset remains gradual. “There are no quick fixes — recoveries take time,” she said. “The trends of 2025 will continue
First American’s 2026 housing market forecast points to better affordability Read More »
A growing share of U.S. homebuyers are using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans as the housing market leans in favor of buyers. Nationwide, 7.3% of mortgaged homebuyers used a VA loan in August, up from 6.5% a year earlier — the highest level for that month since 2019, according to a report from Redfin.
VA loans rise as housing market shifts toward buyers Read More »
Last week, housing inventory levels decreased noticeably, while our weekly pending sales showed a notable increase compared to the same period last year. Was the decrease in inventory primarily due to the seasonal decline in housing stock, or did the increase in demand contribute to lowering the inventory numbers? Let’s dive into this weekend’s tracker
Housing inventory falls as demand picks up 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 »
The median age of first-time homebuyers in the US has climbed to a record of 40 as soaring prices and mortgage rates over the last few years delay homeownership for millions of Americans. The age at which people purchase their first home has climbed rapidly since 2021, when the median was 33, according to a
US median first-time homebuyer age now at record-high of 40 Read More »
The unsung hero of the housing market in 2025 has been the improvement in mortgage spreads, because without the spreads improving as much as they have, mortgage rates would not have gotten near 6% this year. I forecast that mortgage spreads should improve by 0.27%-0.41% this year, from a 2.54% average in 2024, giving mortgage
Mortgage spreads hit lowest level in years, keeping rates near 6% Read More »
As new American Land Title Association (ALTA) President David Townsend steps into his role, he’s wasting no time setting an agenda that includes expanded housing access and a halt to right-to-list agreements — also known as non-title recorded agreements for personal service (NTRAPS). Townsend said these initiatives, along with efforts to improve affordability, streamline permitting
ALTA’s David Townsend on housing affordability and title insurance regulations Read More »