Housing market ‘stuck in neutral’ as rates, price growth flatten
Mortgage rates are holding steady, but purchase applications and pending sales are down as economic and political tensions heighten consumer uncertainty.
January 29, 2026
By the Numbers
Making sense of the data that impacts residential real estate.
- Buyers backed out of deals at a record rate last monthHome purchase cancellations hit an all-time high for the month of December, Redfin found, especially in markets where sellers outnumber buyers by a wide margin.January 27, 2026
- Lower rates, cooling prices prompt cautious optimism for buyersThough recent data offers mixed signals for the spring season, economists believe the year ahead will be “more constructive” for homebuyers.January 22, 2026
- Mortgage rates jump as global tensions flareTrump’s vow to seize Greenland prompted threats of retaliatory tariffs from the EU, putting pressure on Treasury bonds and sending rates up (and stocks down).January 20, 2026
More in By the Numbers
- Affordability forecast indicates ‘small-wins year’ for housingAccording to a new Zillow report, 49 of the 50 largest U.S. markets will see housing costs ease in 2026 — and 20 will meet a key affordability threshold.January 19, 2026
- Builders kick off 2026 in a downbeat moodBuilder confidence dipped in January amid higher construction costs and affordability concerns, according to the NAHB — and many have reported cutting prices.January 16, 2026
- Mortgage rates hit 3-year low — what it means for spring salesRates fell after Trump directed GSEs to buy mortgage-backed securities. Will it be enough to energize a market that ended 2025 with no gain in sales over 2024?January 15, 2026
- Housing will face a ‘significant headwind’ in 2026Despite improving affordability and lower mortgage rates, economic anxiety is expected to mute a housing market rebound in 2026, a Bright MLS survey found.January 14, 2026
- Inflation was flat last month, reducing chance of rate cutThe Fed is unlikely to cut interest rates in January, but it might in March. A bigger unknown? How a DOJ probe will affect monetary decisions going forward.January 13, 2026
- Fed unlikely to cut rates again after lackluster jobs reportAfter three rate cuts in 2025, the Fed seemed ready to take a wait-and-see approach in 2026 — a strategy expected to hold amid a low-hire, low-fire job market.January 9, 2026
- Mortgage rates steady as monthly payments hit 2-year lowThe year is off to a good start with steady mortgage rates, more inventory and flat price growth. What remains to be seen is whether buyer demand will return.January 8, 2026
- Sales up, prices down a year after LA wildfiresThe share of home sales in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have jumped 50% or more, according to Realtor.com data — but prices have fallen sharply.January 7, 2026
- Mortgage rates close out 2025 at 15-month lowThough lower mortgage rates are improving affordability, economists warn that many potential homebuyers will still be “priced out” in the new year.December 31, 2025
- 1 year after LA wildfires, investors are moving inNearly 20K homes worth about $46B were threatened in the Palisades and Eaton fires. As the number of vacant lots climbs, investors are starting to snap them up.December 31, 2025
- The Ten: A housing market stuck in placeInventory improved in 2025, but affordability challenges sidelined potential buyers, while unfavorable selling conditions discouraged homeowners from listing.December 30, 2025
- Pending sales rise, but market still stuck in ‘low gear’Last month, pending home sales rose 3.3% compared to October and 2.6% compared to November 2024, with the biggest year-over-year jump occurring in the South.December 29, 2025
- A typical down payment costs $30k — which takes 7 years to saveThat’s an improvement from 2022, when the timeline was twice as long, but it still puts homeownership out of reach for many consumers as savings rates decline.December 29, 2025
- Buyers market expected to persist ‘for the foreseeable future’Mortgage rates fell again this week, making a 2026 home purchase slightly more affordable for buyers who already have an advantage over sellers.December 26, 2025
- Slow and steady improvement in sales as the year wraps upExisting home sales dipped year-over-year but have increased for three consecutive months, suggesting a more balanced and stable market heading into 2026.December 19, 2025
- Slowing inflation could complicate rate cut decisionsThe November CPI report was based on incomplete data, “complicating interpretation.” Plus, mortgage applications, pending sales fall as buyers remain hesitant.December 18, 2025
- No big mortgage rate shifts expected after mixed jobs reportThe U.S. lost 105,000 jobs in October but added 64,000 in November as unemployment hit the highest mark in over four years, according to the BLS.December 16, 2025
- Why housing’s ‘unaffordable situation’ is so persistentHigh home prices and elevated mortgage rates are keeping first-time buyers locked out even amidst a rise in new home inventory, according to analyst John Burns.December 13, 2025
- 6 housing market trends to watch in 2026Don’t expect any big shifts next year, but we should see a modest uptick in home sales and slightly lower mortgage rates — and no recession.December 12, 2025
- Pending sales fall — but mortgage rates probably won’tConcerns about inflation, the labor market and the health of the U.S. economy at large could push rates higher in the coming weeks and months, economists warn.December 11, 2025
