Hopes of a robust spring homebuying season are quickly running into harsh economic realities
3 economists explain the Iranian conflict's potential impacts, from fuel costs to mortgage rates
While a Dec. 10 Federal Reserve rate cut is now seen as a lock, MBS investors who fund most home loans aren't as bullish that the central bank will cut rates aggressively in 2026
Applications for purchase mortgages hit their highest level since July last week, and rates keep falling as weak jobs reports and more encouraging inflation data point to Sept. 17 Fed rate cut
Homeowners rushed to refinance last week, and lender data shows homebuyer demand for purchase loans is up 17 percent from a year ago with Federal Reserve rate cuts on deck
Tariff uncertainties and job loss worries meant lower rates had a bigger impact last week on refinancing demand than homebuying, Mortgage Bankers Association surveys show
Trump announces new tariffs on dozens of countries beginning Aug. 7, fires BLS commissioner after revised jobs report shows dramatic slowdown in payroll growth in May and June
Inflation moved away from the Fed's 2% target for the second month in a row, with the cost of goods and services rising 2.7% from a year ago, up from 2.3% in April: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index dropped to an annual rate of 2.4% last month, but the impact of tariffs probably won't start showing up in the data until May
A surprisingly large increase in core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, means Fed policymakers are likely to start out with a modest 25 basis-point rate cut next week
The Fed doesn't have direct control over mortgage rates, but they've come down dramatically as investors are convinced policymakers will cut rates at their 3 remaining 2024 meetings