Mortgage rates fell to almost 6% just before the Fed announcement on rate cuts, then rose slightly to close out the week. Have lower mortgage rates already changed the housing market? Yes. Housing data started to change in our weekly Housing Market Tracker in mid-June and I’m writing this weekend’s tracker a bit differently to […]
Have lower mortgage rates already changed the housing market? Read More »
As home prices and mortgage rates continue to stretch budgets, many would-be homebuyers are wondering if they’ll ever be able to make the jump. Industry professionals say that creative financing tools and professional guidance can make homeownership more attainable, but a lack of awareness continues to stand in the way. Three voices from different corners
Help exists for cash-strapped homebuyers — but many don’t know it Read More »
Between April 2024 and March 2025, Canadian homebuyers spent $6.2 billion on U.S. real estate purchases, making up 14% of all foreign homebuyers, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). While the total spend of Canadian buyers is up from $4.4 billion in the prior 12-month period, data from Redfin, which was
Canadians are cooling on the U.S. housing market Read More »
Houston’s housing market maintains a competitive edge in affordability while still showing a slight seller’s advantage, according to the latest HW Data. With a median listing price of $351,900, Houston presents a value opportunity for buyers priced out of Dallas and Austin markets. Inventory and pricing vary significantly across Texas metros The Houston metro area
Houston Home Values Provide Competitive Edge in Texas Read More »
Home sellers expect to spend about $18,500 on expenses, but the actual cost is more than $67,000, according to a new report from Clever Offers, a platform owned by Clever Real Estate. The report found that on average, recent sellers spent: $21,024 on pre- and post-listing repairs and improvements $14,204 on seller’s agent commission $13,691
$67K to sell a home? Consumers drastically underestimate the costs Read More »
Household income in the U.S. rose slightly in 2024, but the picture looks very different depending on where you live. The national median income reached $83,730 last year, up 1.3% from 2023, according to a new report from online fintech company SmartAsset. That modest increase failed to keep pace with the roughly 3% inflation rate,
Household income climbs in some big cities, outweighed by inflation in others Read More »
Mortgage rates have had a wild ride since Fed Chair Jerome Powell started talking at the Fed press event Wednesday, rising 15 basis points today. However, I think the bond market responded appropriately after the Fed meeting, and on Thursday morning. Why? Even though the Fed lowered rates, the tone of the press conference was
Mortgage rates go wild following Fed rate cut and Powell remarks Read More »
Homebuilders in America are cheering, not because of the disappointing housing permit data released today, but because mortgage rates are near 6%. We have seen four consecutive months of job losses in residential construction labor, as mortgage rates have been elevated and builders’ inventory has been piling up. Housing permits, which have been declining since early 2022,
Disappointing housing permits show why we need 6% mortgage rates Read More »
The week of Oct. 12–18 will be the best time for homebuyers in 2025, according to Realtor.com’s annual Best Time to Buy Report. The analysis projects buyers could see 32.6% more active listings compared to the start of the year, home prices averaging $15,000 lower than summer peaks and 30.6% less competition. “After years of
Best time to buy a house? Mid-October 2025 favors buyers Read More »
A federal watchdog has ruled that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) broke the law by blocking or delaying aid money that Congress had already approved, including funds for programs that provide shelter and food. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), which oversees federal spending on behalf of Congress, said in a decision released this week
FEMA funds blocked illegally, GAO finds Read More »