Job loss fears, mortgage rates weigh on housing sentiment

Fannie Mae survey echoes polls by the University of Michigan and the Conference Board that found uncertainty over tariffs is weighing on consumer confidence. Continue reading

Downward trend in mortgage rates not enough to spur homebuyers

Requests to refinance are up 40 percent from a year ago, but uncertainty “continues to hold homebuyers out of the market,” Mortage Bankers Association economist Joel Kan said Wednesday. Continue reading

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

Trump administration relaxes FHA flood risk, appraisal requirements

Recission of a dozen regulatory policies is aimed at “slashing red tape that drives up costs and shuts families out of the market,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said. 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

So far, the conflict with Iran hasn’t nudged the US housing market. But could it?

Economists typically keep their eyes out for three key things when assessing whether a Middle East conflict could weigh on U.S. home sales. Here’s what they are. Continue reading

NAR says lower mortgage rates could help boost sluggish sales. When might that happen?

Amid fighting over the federal funds rate, NAR says home sales were 0.7 percent lower in May than a year ago as inventory rose to a 4.6-month supply Continue reading

Pulte wages war on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, blaming him for high home prices

The chair of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie and Freddie has spent the past day calling on Powell to step down, saying he’s responsible for high home prices. Continue reading

Trump looks to South Korea to bring down mortgage rates

Overseas investors hold about $1.36 trillion in U.S. mortgage debt, with Japan, China, Taiwan and Canada accounting for 61 percent of that total. Continue reading