‘April delivered’ as spring homebuying season picks up momentum
New data shows increases in pending sales, new listings and touring activity — but geopolitical and job market concerns continue to challenge the spring market.
April 30, 2026
By the Numbers
Making sense of the data that impacts residential real estate.
- Average monthly mortgage payments top $2K — a new recordOver the past five years, the average payment has jumped 44% — and breached $2,000 per month for the first time late last year, according to Realtor.com data.April 24, 2026
- ‘Crisis of confidence’ holding buyers back despite lower ratesMortgage rates fell again, but economic uncertainty remains a stubborn headwind. A bump in purchase applications may signal a shift — if buyers don’t back out.April 23, 2026
- Mortgage rates less of a factor for buyers, sellers this yearA third of sellers listing this spring have sub-5% mortgages, while most buyers aren’t waiting for rates to drop — spurring market activity, a new survey found.April 23, 2026
More in By the Numbers
- Pending home sales lift, but momentum could be ‘cut short’Though mortgage rates climbed in March, pending sales increased 1.5% compared to February — but what happens next will depend on how the war in Iran progresses.April 21, 2026
- Pandemic ‘permanently transformed’ land market, new study saysLot inventory has fallen nearly 24% since 2019, just before the Covid-era construction boom began, Realtor.com found — “and the market is still paying for it.”April 21, 2026
- Buyers have an advantage this spring — but will they show up?Sellers outnumber buyers nationally, but with mortgage rates and inflation up from February, the “spring housing market is still a bit of a toss-up.”April 20, 2026
- Homeownership varies by job type — but affordability still a factorWhile business professionals and people in management still have the highest rates of homeownership, service occupations have seen big gains in recent years.April 17, 2026
- ‘Increasingly worse vibes’ hampering spring housing marketThough mortgage rates are ticking down and home price appreciation has dropped year-over-year, widespread economic uncertainty continues sapping demand.April 16, 2026
- Builder confidence wanes as material costs riseNAHB’s April survey found that higher construction material costs — stemming from surging fuel prices — and the slow housing market are weighing on builders.April 15, 2026
- Share of first-time buyers sinks to record lowOnly 21% of recent homebuyers were first-timers, according to a new NAR report, with younger millennials accounting for the biggest year-over-year drop.April 15, 2026
- Nearly 1 in 10 home shoppers open to renting or buyingAbout 8% of Zillow users search for rental and for-sale listings simultaneously, with the share increasing in many of the country’s priciest metros.April 14, 2026
- Spring market ‘fragile’ as existing home sales hit 9-month lowThe rise in mortgage rates seen since the war in Iran began prompted NAR to revise its 2026 forecast, with only a 4% uptick in existing home sales now expected.April 13, 2026
- Housing market in a ‘psychological freeze’ as confidence fallsInflation rose 3.3% in March and consumer confidence has hit a new low. Plus, judge upholds quashed Fed subpoenas; White House pitches $10.7B cuts to HUD; more.April 10, 2026
- 5-week rate climb ends — but sustained drop is ‘unlikely’Though the housing market had some momentum earlier this year, economists now say a “fog of uncertainty” has settled over the spring homebuying season.April 9, 2026
- Iran ceasefire may not quell mortgage rate volatilityRates fell today, but even if the situation in the Middle East improves, it will take time for the U.S. economy — and the housing market — to get back on track.April 8, 2026
- Zillow economist calls out Redfin for ‘mischaracterizing’ researchA study suggesting that pre-marketing could lead to an inventory boost has been criticized by Zillow Chief Economist Mischa Fisher: “The math doesn't hold up.”April 8, 2026
- Tariffs ‘on track to exacerbate’ US housing shortageA new congressional report estimates that there are nearly 60K fewer home construction jobs now than before the president introduced “Liberation Day” tariffs.April 8, 2026
- Housing market may have finally ‘turned a corner’Zillow reports an uptick in web traffic for home listings, while ICE finds that today’s market is “better supplied and more balanced than in recent years.”April 6, 2026
- Strong jobs report scores ‘small win’ for housing marketThe U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs in March, potentially bringing good news for household formation and mobility. But the momentum may not continue into April.April 3, 2026
- Older empty nesters still own about 1 in 4 large homesBaby boomers whose kids live elsewhere own about 28% of the nation’s large homes while millennial parents — who own about 16% — struggle for a slice of the pie.April 2, 2026
- Housing market in a ‘holding pattern’ as rates hit 7-month highHomebuyers and sellers appear to be hesitating, with mortgage application activity stalling as weekly average rates hit 6.46% following five weeks of increases.April 2, 2026
- 1 in 2 homes spent at least 60 days on market in FebruaryWeak buyer demand and high home prices are contributing to the trend of listings lingering on the market, according to new Redfin data.March 30, 2026
- How rising energy prices could change the course of home salesA new forecast from Zillow’s chief economist shows just how much the current geopolitical situation could affect the 2026 U.S. housing market.March 27, 2026
