ATTOM Data Solutions’ most recent Housing Risk Report looks at county-level housing markets and ranks their vulnerability to decline based on affordability, proportion of seriously underwater mortgages, foreclosure rates, and unemployment. According to the results, more than half of the nation’s 50 highest risk markets are located in just five states, with California collecting 16 all on its own. New Jersey followed with nine markets, Florida had four, and Arizona and Texas each had three counties at risk of … [Read more...]

The housing market has presented some challenges over the past five years. From skyrocketing prices and record-low inventory to climbing mortgage rates and deteriorating affordability conditions, it hasn’t been easy for home buyers and sellers. But has the tide finally turned? Possibly. According to a newly released forecast from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, 2026 may see a calmer, healthier, steadier housing market. Danielle Hale, the website’s chief economist, says the new year should … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates moved lower last week from one week earlier. Declining rates were seen across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, 15-year fixed-rate loans, and 5/1 ARMs. Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, says demand was mixed despite the improvement. “After adjusting for the impact of the … [Read more...]

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of contracts to buy homes signed each month. Because most signed contracts lead to final sales weeks later, the index is considered a good forward-looking indicator of existing-home sales numbers. In other words, if pending sales rise in one month, final sales are likely to increase the following month. According to the NAR’s most recent results, contract signings were up 1.9 percent in October from the month before and are now just … [Read more...]

It wasn’t long ago that homes for sale would get multiple offers and go under contract in a matter of days. But times have changed. Now, not only are listings lasting longer on the market, homes for sale are more likely to see multiple price cuts than multiple offers. In fact, according to one recent analysis, the typical home listing saw $25,000 in cuts in October – matching the biggest discounts ever recorded. The average individual cut remained around $10,000. That hasn’t changed much in recent years. What has … [Read more...]

The S&P Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index is a composite of single-family home price indices for the nine U.S. Census divisions. Calculated quarterly, it is considered among the leading measures of national home prices. According to the most recent release, price increases continue to decelerate, with values up just 1.3 percent year-over-year through the end of September. That’s down slightly from the previous month’s results, when prices rose 1.4 percent from year-before levels. Nicholas Godec, CFA, … [Read more...]

Generally speaking, something old is going to be less expensive than something new. That’s true for most things and certainly homes for sale. New homes are typically more expensive than previously owned homes. But according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, the two are now closer in price than they’ve ever been before. In fact, the median price for newly built homes is currently $451,337 while the median for an older home is $409,667. Danielle Hale, the website’s chief … [Read more...]

Affordability conditions continued to improve in October, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest Purchase Applications Payment Index. The index – which measures the national median mortgage payment based on amounts applied for by borrowers – found the median payment fell month-over-month, dropping to $2,039 from $2,067 one month earlier. Edward Seiler, MBA’s associate vice president of housing economics and executive director of the Research Institute for Housing America, says the index is now at … [Read more...]

Sales of previously owned homes rose 1.2 percent month-over-month in October, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. Year-over-year, sales were up in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, but down in the West. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says home buyers took advantage of lower mortgage rates during the month. “Home sales increased in October even with the government shutdown due to home buyers taking advantage of lower mortgage rates,” Yun said. “Rents are decelerating which will … [Read more...]

Sometimes shopping for a house means making quick decisions. That’s particularly true when the market’s hot and there’s a lot of competition between buyers. Under those conditions, buyers have to act fast. But acting fast leads to mistakes and mistakes lead to regret. That’s why buyers’ remorse rose during the pandemic-era housing market. Buyers were pushing their budgets, trying to outbid one another. But now that the market has slowed, so have the regrets. In fact, according to a new survey from the National … [Read more...]