What is the Federal Reserve, and how does it impact real estate?

Improve your understanding of how broad economic factors impact the housing market with this Fed explainer from Jonathan Pressman. Continue reading

Mortgage rates plummet to new 2025 low on anemic jobs report

Investors who fund most home loans are no longer wondering whether the Federal Reserve will cut rates this month, but by how much. At least three quarter-percentage point rate cuts are now expected this year. Continue reading

Why Trump’s moves to control Fed could send mortgage rates higher

If bond market investors get cold feet about buying government debt and mortgage-backed securities, that could push long-term interest rates higher, even if the Fed cuts short-term rates. Continue reading

Homebuyers are out in force and mortgage rates are coming down

With 7.24 million Americans out of work in July and payroll growth slowing, the Fed is expected to pivot from fighting inflation to preserving jobs. Continue reading

Mortgage rates drop sharply as Powell shifts stance on rate cuts

Investors pushed bond yields and mortgage rates down Friday after Fed chair says policymakers are starting to see unemployment as a bigger risk to the U.S. economy than inflation. Continue reading

Fannie Mae dials back sales expectations by 220,000 homes

Driving the revised forecast are expectations for slightly cooler economic growth and hotter inflation, which could mean mortgage rates come down a little more slowly. Continue reading

Mortgage rates hit 4-month low and have more room to drop

Homeowners scrambled to refinance last week as mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level in four months, with homebuyer demand also up by double digits from a year ago, according to a weekly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mortg… Continue reading

Mortgage rates drop with stocks on surprise jobs report and new tariffs

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. Continue reading

In split vote, Fed policymakers snub Trump, leave rates unchanged

With job market stable and economy chugging along, futures market investors now think the odds of a September rate cut are less than even. Continue reading

Mortgage rates are headed up again on June CPI inflation report

Inflation moved away from Fed’s 2 percent target for the second month in a row, with the cost of goods and services rising 2.7 percent from a year ago, up from 2.3 percent in April. Continue reading