Editor’s note: Econ Review is a roundup of the month’s housing and economic market data reports. Spring 2026 is shaping up better than previous years, leaving real estate professionals brimming with expectations for the potential of an even better summer as certain housing economy indicators continue to improve. However, lingering economic uncertainty remains, leaving some…
After two brutal years in the housing market, hopes were high that 2026 would see a gradual rebound. But those hopes haven’t materialized as potential buyers see misalignment between their incomes and active home listings, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). As of March 2026, 74.9% of U.S. listings…
Sales of newly built single-family homes fell 6.2% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 622,000, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, as the 2026 housing market remains sluggish overall. The pace of new-home sales is down 11.3% from a…
A new housing affordability index from the University of San Diego reveals that the total cost of homeownership surpassed renters’ income in some of the nation’s largest metros at the end of 2025. As the data shows, there’s a lot more that goes into the housing affordability equation that can make—or break—homebuyers’ ability to purchase…
Mortgage rates have fluctuated again this week, seeing an increase as inflation rose due to elevated oil, gas and energy prices due to continued geopolitical tensions, according to the latest data from Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey® found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) had increased from 6.36% last week to 6.51%…
Housing starts softened in April after March’s sharp increase, though year-over-year comparisons remain slightly positive as the housing market navigates shifting seasonal patterns. In the New Residential Construction report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, new housing starts were down 2.8% from March to a seasonally adjusted…
Buyers appear to be continuing to dip their toes in the market at a modest rate, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). While pending activity is less than the hoped-for spring boom, it is still historically better despite consistent market and economic challenges. NAR’s April Pending Home Sales report…
As some sales activity picked up toward the end of the spring season, with housing starts seeing an unexpected boost, the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) observed a slight pickup in homebuilder confidence. However, as market and economic challenges persist, builders still remain overwhelmingly cautious about their businesses. The May…
In the ever-going search for affordability in the market, new research identifies that while prices may be higher on newly built homes, they cost less in the long run for homebuyers than existing homes. Realtor.com®’s new report on the total cost of homeownership found that homebuyers purchasing newly built homes can save $25,335 on average…
We are now five months into 2026—rapidly approaching the halfway point—and so far the year has thrown some definite curveballs at the real estate industry. This year was widely expected to be a year of stabilization and normalization for the housing market, and Q1 (January-March) is largely the stage-setter for how the rest of the…
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