By the Numbers

In hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh praised the economy’s strength but warned that inflation remains “too high.”

While inventory has continued to creep up in the final days of the month, less homebuyer competition is expected in the coming weeks as the summer winds down.

Affordability is the main factor driving buyers to search for homes outside the metro where they already live, according to two new reports from Realtor.com.

Prices of new homes continued to fall in July as consumer demand remained weak, with Census Bureau data showing a 10.5% month-over-month drop in sales.

It takes about 15 years to save for a down payment and benefit financially from buying vs. renting, up from 11 years in 2019, according to a recent report.

While rates dipped slightly this week, bond market volatility could mean a bumpy road ahead, and Fannie Mae is now forecasting rates at 6.8% by year-end.

Signed contracts were down on a monthly and annual basis in all U.S. regions, while single-family home starts slowed to the lowest level since November 2022.

Mortgage rates changed little in response to new jobs and inflation data, but sellers are still increasingly outnumbering buyers in a sign of weakening demand.

Existing home sales fell 1.7% from June, with sales on pace to match last year’s rate. One bright spot: affordability improved nationwide, according to NAR.

Mortgage holder equity reached $18 trillion in June, but a growing share of borrowers in Texas and Florida are either underwater, behind on payments, or both.

Though a lackluster jobs report and weaker wage growth may sap consumer confidence, these factors could prompt the Fed to hold off on raising interest rates.

While closed home sales perked up in July, pending sales and mortgage application data suggests another market slowdown is on the way.

Aspiring Gen Z homeowners would rather change ZIP codes than increase their budgets, and finding the “right” home trumps buying one quickly, a new survey finds.

Some economists say the four-phase housing market cycle has been consistent for decades. But the current market’s “correction” phase isn’t behaving as expected.

The highest mortgage rates of the year are hitting at a time when home sales are already starting their seasonal slowdown, further suppressing activity.

The number of U.S. homes purchased by international buyers fell 14% year-over-year — the second-lowest level in NAR records dating back to 2009.

The FOMC voted 9-3 to keep rates in the 3.5% to 3.75% range. The central bank has not adjusted short-term interest rates since its December 2025 meeting.

The Iran war escalation is spooking financial markets and raising inflation concerns. And next week’s Fed meeting isn’t likely to “signal any immediate relief.”

A report comparing the cost of living in 1974 to 2024 shows that rent burdens are relatively lighter today, but home prices have outpaced gains in buying power.

Foreclosures jumped over 20% in the first half of 2026 while short-sale transactions increased 16% in Q1, according to new data from ATTOM and Realtor.com.