News and Views

Getty Images Homebuyers aren’t the only people feeling a lack of hope about the housing market—homebuilders share that sentiment, too, according to a new report. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, released on Wednesday, decreased by 2 points in May, dropping from 45 to 43, indicating a continued lack of confidence […]

Realtor.com; Getty Images (1) Mortgage rates continued to fall this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan sinking from 6.95% last week to 6.87% for the week ending June 20, according to Freddie Mac. “Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week following signs of cooling inflation and market expectations of

Realtor.com; Getty Images (1) Mortgage rates dipped further this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan falling from 6.99% last week to 6.95% for the week ending June 13, according to Freddie Mac. “Mortgage rates continued to fall back this week as incoming data suggests the economy is cooling to a

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated through the summer, after Federal Reserve policymakers held the benchmark interest rate steady at their latest meeting. As expected, the Fed on Wednesday left the federal funds rate unchanged at a target range of 5.25% to 5.5%. The U.S. central bank has now

Realtor.com; Getty Images (1) Mortgage rates dipped below 7% this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan falling from 7.03% last week to 6.99% for the week ending June 6, according to Freddie Mac. “Mortgage rates retreated this week given incoming data showing slower growth,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist,

Realtor.com; Getty Images Buyers face a tough housing market these days: With listing prices hovering at $430,000 and mortgage interest rates near 7%, the cards seem to be stacked against them. But not all markets are equally daunting. In fact, some are bona fide buyer’s markets where cash-strapped home shoppers can snag a bargain. So where

Getty Images The United States needs at least 1.5 million additional homes, and likely many more, to relieve the nation’s housing shortage, according to Freddie Mac. In the first quarter of 2024, the homeowner vacancy rate dropped to 0.8% from 0.9% the prior quarter, the mortgage buyer said in a recent report on the housing

Getty Images The numbers: Pending home sales plunged in April as buyers felt the effects of an expensive housing market. With home prices and mortgage rates rising, buyers seem to be pulling back on signing contracts on homes for sale. Pending home sales fell 7.7% in April from the previous month, according to the monthly index

Realtor.com; Getty Images (1) Mortgage rates shot back up this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan rising from 6.94% last week to 7.03% for the week ending May 30, according to Freddie Mac. “Following several weeks of decline, mortgage rates changed course this week,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said

Getty Images Home prices in the U.S. have hit a new all-time high, despite higher mortgage rates that have discouraged many buyers. Nationally, home prices rose 6.5% on an annual basis in March, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index released on Tuesday. On a monthly basis, the index rose 0.3% from February