Economists no longer expect big drop in mortgage rates this year

Elevated rates chill the prospects of a 2025 sales rebound from the lowest level in 30 years, as many would-be homebuyers and sellers would stay on the sidelines. Continue reading

Mortgage rates ease on benign December inflation report

Investors bid up shares of mortgage lenders and real estate companies after “relatively benign” CPI report ends speculation that inflation worries might force the Fed to raise rates this year. Continue reading

Strong December jobs report pushes mortgage rates higher

Investors who fund most home loans are now convinced that the Federal Reserve won’t cut rates again until June after employers add 256,000 jobs in December. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

Would-be homebuyers are still looking for conditions to improve

Americans are more hopeful that the economy is on the right track than they were a year ago, but only 1 in 5 thought December was a good time to buy a home, Fannie Mae surveys show. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

Fed cuts again, but mortgage rates climb on 2025 inflation worries

Bond market investors are focused on the latest “dot plot,” indicating Fed policymakers only expect to bring short-term rates down by half a percentage point in 2025. Continue reading

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 a more positive outlook on the economy and job market.” Continue reading