The news is good for real estate agents. At the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Real Estate Forecast Summit, held remotely earlier this month, Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist & VP of research, highlighted data showing that 88% of buyers use an agent to help them navigate the home transaction process. Additionally, the use…
Builder confidence remained in negative territory for the final month of 2025—as it did throughout the year due to continued economic and market challenges—though there’s some hope for a better year in 2026, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) data. The December NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) found that builder…
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…
The lock-in effect—the gap between existing mortgage payments and the cost of financing a home today—continues to widely affect housing supply and is “trapping” homeowners into staying where they are, according to new data from Realtor.com®. The new Realtor.com report details how a homeowner wishing to move but locked-in at a lower mortgage rate…
Homeownership remains a priority for many Americans despite housing market fluctuations this year. A recent consumer survey conducted by REMAX highlights how market conditions and lifestyle preferences are shaping homebuyers’ plans. While affordability remains a key concern, buyers are also prioritizing neighborhood safety, social connection and access to lifestyle-enhancing amenities. These preferences underscore that buyers…
Delistings are rising as sellers are pulling back from the market in response to a lack of offers from buyers, primarily due to continued affordability challenges, according to the latest data from Realtor.com®. Realtor.com’s Monthly Housing Trends Report for November found that delisitings have risen 45.5% year to date and 37.9% year-over-year, which are the…
The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation, rose to 2.8% in September on an annual basis. According to data from the Commerce Department released Dec. 5, core PCE rose 0.2% over the previous month. The report, delayed by the government shutdown, seemingly gives a further green light…
This year is on track to end with a slower than average housing market, but will 2026 kick real estate into high gear? The 2026 housing forecast from Bright MLS projects another “transition year” for housing, with slight pick-ups in market fundamentals but enduring challenges for first-time buyers, as well as strong differences between regional…
A lack of inventory and an affordability crunch since the pandemic have affected the housing market in many ways, few of them positive for buyers. But one interesting dynamic remains pricing between new builds and existing homes—with existing homes historically much cheaper. Despite a welcome surge in inventory overall, the price of a new build…
Annual gains in home prices have continued their weakened slope for another month, a trend that began back in the spring of this year, according to the latest data. The September S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index saw home prices post a 1.3% annual gain, the “weakest performance since mid-2023,” which “represents a stark contrast…
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