President Donald Trump has floated several controversial ideas to help make housing affordable again. But his latest pitch—allowing Americans to tap 401(k) plans and 529 education savings accounts without penalties to fund their down payments—could have lasting financial consequences even if it helps with some upfront homeownership costs. According to a report from Politico, the…
Americans from all walks of life are feeling heightened anxiety about their finances — and that could dampen the housing market’s recovery, according to a new survey from Bright MLS. The survey of more than 3,300 adults found that a majority of Americans are worried about money across the board. However, this concern is felt…
Due to last year’s government shutdown, the latest new-home sales data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been held up until now—and the results suggest cause for optimism. During October 2025, 737,000 new units were sold in the U.S. This is down slightly from September 2025…
With little change in the average mortgage rate expected over the coming weeks, home shoppers are seeing some positive signs as the market moves toward the traditional busy buying season. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by Freddie Mac Thursday, shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaging 6.16%, a one-basis-point increase from last…
While mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level since September, applications for home purchases were down nearly 10% from two weeks prior. Despite the mixed trends, mortgage watchers expect rates to remain at current levels with periods of increased refinances. According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of…
Freddie Mac’s last mortgage report of 2025 released earlier this week on New Year’s Eve saw the average mortgage rate hit its lowest level of the year, a positive sign for home shoppers as the holiday season comes to a close and eyes turn toward 2026’s peak buying season in the months ahead. The latest…
The post Mortgage Rates Drop to Lowest Level to Close Out 2025 appeared first on RISMedia.
A cooling labor market reported this week with unemployment rising slightly, while in line with expectations, did little to move mortgage rates, economists report. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by Freddie Mac Thursday, shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaging 6.21%, a slight decline of one basis point from last week’s rate…
There are all kinds of numbers available for people to ponder as they set on the path to homeownership. Every month the National Association of Realtors® releases a home-purchase affordability report which provides the latest national facts and figures regarding qualifying income needed to buy a home, current average mortgage rate, median family income and…
With the last FOMC meeting and interest rate cuts of the year in the rear-view mirror, combined with typical holiday time slowdowns, economists were not surprised to see a decrease in mortgage applications this week. According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—decreased 3.8%…
As 2025 comes to a close, affordability has stabilized somewhat for many homebuyers, according to the latest National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) Housing Affordability Index. NAR’s data saw the qualifying income needed to buy a home decrease slightly to $100,272 in October (based on a 25% qualifying ratio for monthly housing expense to gross monthly…
| Newer Posts | Older Posts |