Mortgage demand crumbles as rates are on the rise again
With mortgage rates back to where they were last summer, purchase applications are coming in at the slowest pace since February 2024, Mortgage Bankers Association lender survey finds
by Matt Carter Jan 8
Home prices hit new highs in 2024. These 2 factors could ease the pain 
Prices hit record highs in 2024, making affordability just as big a problem as it was on the eve of the 2007 housing bust. But this time, prices in most markets are expected to decelerate, not fall
by Matt Carter Jan 2
Forecasters see strong economy keeping a lid on 2025 home sales
According to Inman's 2025 economic outlook, a soft landing for the economy would mean home prices keep rising and mortgage rates settle in at around 6%, with sales varying widely by region
by Matt Carter Dec 30
Top 5 predictions for 2025 from Windermere's principal economist
Opinion
Despite the setbacks we saw this year, 2025 will likely see many of the same trends come true that were initially predicted for 2024, Windermere’s Principal Economist Jeff Tucker writes
by Jeff Tucker Dec 30
Mortgage rates ease a bit on November inflation surprise
Core inflation rose less in November than had been expected, in part because housing costs rose at a slower pace, Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief US Economist Samuel Tombs said
by Matt Carter Dec 20
Homebuyers show readiness to pounce when mortgage rates dip
Requests for purchase loans picked up last week during a short-lived drop in rates, MBA survey shows, helped by gradually improving inventory conditions and economic outlook
by Matt Carter Dec 18
December Fed rate cut seen as a lock — then caution may prevail
The latest CPI reading is in line with expectations, but progress in the fight against inflation has stalled, economists warn. A slower pace of easing might keep mortgage rates above 6% in 2025
by Matt Carter Dec 11
Hiring slows and unemployment rises, boosting odds of Fed rate cut
Employers added 227,000 workers to their payrolls in November, but with 7.1 million Americans out of work, the unemployment rate is back up to 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports
by Matt Carter Dec 6
Sustained drop in mortgage rates gets attention of homebuyers
Purchase mortgage demand picks up for the 4th week in a row to highest level since January as rates continue a post-election retreat that could have legs: MBA survey
by Matt Carter Dec 4
Latest inflation data ups the odds of a December Fed rate cut
Progress in taming inflation slowed in October, but futures market investors think the latest numbers increase the odds of another Federal Reserve rate cut next month
by Matt Carter Nov 27
real estate economist
Windermere’s Principal Economist Jeff Tucker looks at October's falling month-to-month new construction numbers
by Jeff Tucker Nov 27
Dramatic downward revisions for projected 2025 home sales: Fannie
Fannie Mae and MBA forecasts dampened expectations for projected home sales in 2025 while offering a more cautious outlook on the prospects of mortgage rates coming down in the new year
by Matt Carter Nov 21
Latest CPI reading leaves door open for December Fed rate cut
October Consumer Price Index report isn't having a big impact on mortgage rates, as investors who fund most home loans doubt the Fed will have much room to bring rates down next year
by Matt Carter Nov 13
Mortgage rates not expected to budge on latest Fed rate cut
Move was anticipated by investors that fund most home loans, who have been driving up mortgage rates over concerns about inflation and pace of future Fed rate cuts
by Matt Carter Nov 7
Record number of Americans say they'd rather rent than buy
Housing market sentiment rose in October to the highest level since February 2022, but 8 in 10 consumers still said it was a bad time to buy: Fannie Mae survey
by Matt Carter Nov 7