Fed pauses rate cuts, continues mortgage ‘quantitative tightening’

Trump wants lower rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell says he’s not spoken to the President, and that “we don’t need to be in a hurry to adjust the policy stance.” Continue reading

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

Elevated mortgage rates continue to chill homebuyer demand

Mortgage rates hovering near “key psychological level” of 7 percent, a likely factor in the slow pace of applications for both refinance and purchase mortgages: MBA chief economist. Continue reading

Trump’s executive order to address housing costs is short on specifics

Mortgage lenders have renewed their calls to slash Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance premiums to help buyers struggling with elevated housing costs and mortgage rates. 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

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

New listings rise while high rates tamp down homebuyer demand

New listings rose 8 percent toward the end of the year, but high mortgage rates and home prices have kept buyers on the sidelines as homes spend more time on market, reports say. Continue reading

5 predictions for 2025 from NAR’s economic summit

The National Association of Realtors hosted its latest Real Estate Forecast Summit on Thursday, where five of the industry’s top economists shared their predictions for mortgage rates, consumer activity, government spending and macroeconomic trends. Continue reading

Healthy FHA reserves justify premium cuts, lenders say

Private mortgage insurers are hoping to head off another FHA premium cut, like the 35 percent reduction approved last year by the Biden administration that’s project to save homebuyers $5.1 billion over 10 years. Continue reading

Fall market preview: Rate cuts have finally arrived — is the recovery on?

It will take more than recent rate cuts for a recovery in home sales to gain traction, a new analysis of market data and economic forecasts suggests. Intel explores what’s at stake for the fall market. Continue reading