Mortgage applications surged last week but rates are climbing again

Applications for purchase mortgages rose 5 percent last week, but a strong jobs report and ongoing bank instability are pushing mortgage rates back up. Continue reading

Fed signals it may be done raising rates, but Powell won’t talk pivot

Bank failures and potential debt ceiling showdown are wildcards for Fed policymakers weighing their next move as the threat of recession looms. Continue reading

Homebuyer demand for purchase mortgages up despite higher rates

Mortgage rates are expected to ease as markets anticipate Federal Reserve policymakers will raise rates just one more time this year and then reverse course. Continue reading

Home sales will be ‘subdued’ for rest of 2023, Fannie Mae projects

The housing sector’s resilience to higher prices and mortgage rates has bolstered prices, but a lack of for-sale inventory is expected to limit sales, according to Fannie’s latest monthly forecast. Continue reading

Listing shortages kept prices from falling in Q1: Fannie Mae

The mortgage giant’s quarterly Home Price Index shows national home prices were up 1 percent during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the final three months of 2022. Continue reading

Housing costs remain stubbornly high despite relief on food, energy

The U.S. Consumer Price Index cooled to 5 percent in March compared to a year ago, but remained elevated overall despite efforts from the Federal Reserve to curb inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continue reading

Poll shows most Americans still think it’s a bad time to buy

Consumer sentiment ticked up slightly in March as confidence in selling conditions improved and fewer people worried about losing their jobs. Continue reading

Falling mortgage rates and home prices spur homebuyer interest

Demand for purchase loans picks up for the fourth straight week as mortgage rates continue to retreat from 2023 highs, according to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association survey released Wednesday. Continue reading

Rent peaked in February 2022. Here’s why it’s still driving inflation

Private indexes show that rent peaked in early 2022. But the impact of the rapid increase in rent could still show up in inflation readings for months, economists told Inman. Continue reading