Housing costs force Americans earning less than $50K to sacrifice

Nearly three-quarters of U.S. residents earning less than $50,000 annually are struggling to keep up with monthly rent or mortgage payments, causing many to make dramatic sacrifices to stay afloat. Continue reading

Rising mortgage rates are taking their toll on homebuyer demand

MBA lender survey shows demand for purchase loans is still slightly stronger than it was a year ago, when rates were soaring toward post-pandemic highs. Continue reading

Median down payment slides $2,400 as affordability improves

Moderating mortgage rates and lessening buyer competition have pushed the U.S. median down payment down 7.33 percent over the past year, according to Realtor.com. Continue reading

Forget mega-teams. Half of all teams have 6 or fewer members

California-based proptech leader RealScout has partnered with T3Sixty and Tom Ferry to release its inaugural Teams Report, which dives into the intricacies of developing a successful team and the unique challenges surrounding technology, marketing, lea… Continue reading

Realtor.com’s Danielle Hale talks an ‘even bigger’ 2025 as rates drop

Ahead of Inman Connect Austin, Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale talks mortgage rates, affordability, and when agents and consumers might reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Continue reading

Don’t facilitate source of income discrimination by sellers

Don’t discourage your sellers from talking to FHA, VA, USDA or DPA buyers, fair housing advocate Dr. Lee Davenport writes. Help facilitate both a timely sale and greater affordability. Continue reading

New-home market a ‘bright spot’ as annual sales rise 9.8%

New-home sales rose 9.8 percent year over year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 716,000 in August. However, an influx of existing-home inventory could pose a challenge to new-home sales into the fall. Continue reading

Mom-and-pop flippers make the dream of homeownership a reality

Small real estate investors have a role to play in improving affordability and inventory, trainer Bernice Ross writes, and can be a key part of growing your real estate business. Continue reading

2024 could be worst year for home sales since 1995: Fannie Mae

Falling mortgage rates should help boost home sales by nearly 10 percent next year, but in the meantime, inventory shortages and affordability challenges are keeping a lid on sales in many markets. Continue reading

Prices and politics drag pending home sales down to new low in July

Homebuyer anxiety around prices and the election precipitated the fall as the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index declined 5.5 percent, to 70.2, the lowest index reading in 23 years. Continue reading