Homebuyers came out in force last week, and rates are trending down

Applications for purchase mortgages hit a seasonally adjusted 2025 high last week, with FHA, VA, and USDA applications for less pricey homes driving the surge. Continue reading

Rising inflation makes ‘jumbo’ Fed rate cut unlikely next week

Initial jobless claims climbed last week to the highest level since Oct. 23, 2021, but investors and economists are expecting three small rate cuts this year rather than a dramatic move next week. Continue reading

Inflation stays flat in October, but shelter costs continue to rise

The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent between September and October and was up 6.7 percent year over year, according to CPI data released Tuesday.  Continue reading

Real estate hiring beats national job gains again in March

Brokerages and other real estate companies added 6,300 new jobs in March, a rate of payroll growth that exceeded that of the United States at large. Continue reading

Bad jobs report could hold silver lining for housing

The Fed now has justification to keep a tight lid on interest rates. But some fear that if employers are forced to raise wages too quickly, that could spark inflationary pressures and spook bond investors. Continue reading

Employment falls for first time in a decade, full picture yet to emerge

The real estate sector lost 3,400 jobs in the first two weeks of March. The numbers don’t reflect 10 million claims filed over the past two weeks. Continue reading