Yes, it’s a ‘big, beautiful bill’ — for the real estate industry at least

Housing trade groups — including NAR, MBA and NAHB — like tax breaks for homebuyers and businesses, and urge lawmakers to put the bill on Trump’s desk Continue reading

Mortgage rates are coming down. Does the trend have any legs?

Hopes that home sales will pick up may hinge more on additional inventory coming onto the market, which is expected to cool or reverse home price gains. Continue reading

Fed expected to resist pressure from Trump for July rate cut

As Fed policymakers await more data confirming that inflation has been tamed, futures markets put the odds of a September rate cut at 90 percent, up from 64 percent a week ago. Continue reading

Some markets look vulnerable as home price appreciation cools

Experts polled by Fannie Mae expect national home prices to keep climbing, but see Austin, Tampa, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami and Phoenix as markets most likely to see price declines. Continue reading

Senate confirms HUD deputy secretary in 51-43 vote

The Senate confirmed Department of Housing and Urban Development Chief of Staff Andrew Hughes as the department’s deputy secretary. Hughes also worked under former Secretary Ben Carson. Continue reading

Rising inventories have more homebuyers going to their lender

Purchase loan applications soared 10 percent last week to the highest level since April, even though rates have been stuck in the high sixes, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Continue reading

Consumer sentiment about housing market rebounds

While just 26 percent of Americans said May was a good time to buy, that’s up from 23 percent in April and 14 percent a year ago, an all-time low in Fannie Mae survey. Continue reading

Job market is cooling, but not fast enough to alarm Fed policymakers

An estimated 7.24 million Americans were unemployed in May, as hiring by private employers slowed and the federal government continued to shrink its payroll. Continue reading

Senate Dems ask Pulte to put Fannie, Freddie revamp on hold

Lawmakers want assurances that privatizing the mortgage giants or taking them public won’t drive mortgage rates up, and put investor profits “over the homes of millions of Americans.” Continue reading

Dip in mortgage rates doesn’t do much to excite homebuyers

While purchase loan demand was still up 18 percent last week from a year ago, some of that demand may not translate into sales, with Redfin reporting an unusual bump in cancelled purchase contracts. Continue reading