By the Numbers

While many borrowers take on a mortgage in the hope of refinancing when rates drop, a new report warns against counting on a refi as a financial lifeline.

New home sales were down 8.2% in July compared to a year ago despite an uptick in builder incentives. But those priced under $300k are selling the fastest.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested that the board is ready to start cutting rates, which could mean a boost for home sales and construction.

A summer inventory “pileup” has made housing more affordable, according to Glenn Kelman. But with sellers holding back, the market may not rebound before 2026.

In what could be promising signs for the fall market, existing home sales increased 2% in July and mortgage rates are holding steady at 10-month lows.

Active listings are up year-over-year, but sales remain slow. Why? Because fresh inventory — not overall supply — spurs buyer activity, a new analysis finds.

Single-family housing permits, starts and completions all rose in July, but the industry continues to face strong headwinds, led by softening demand.

Some potential sellers are holding off on putting their homes on the market after seeing other listings stall, new housing data from Redfin and Zillow suggest.

The shift toward a buyers market provides investors with more room to negotiate, but many remain cautious amid rising labor and insurance cost concerns.

Homeowners with lower credit scores can pay more for insurance than those who live in a disaster-prone area but have higher scores, a new CFA report found.

Lower rates may not be enough to motivate buyers amid inflation concerns and stalling inventory growth, but economists say a fall upswing is still possible.

Higher inventory has helped slow price growth, but sellers who can wait for more favorable conditions are starting to walk away, keeping prices elevated.

While short-term interest rate cuts are still on the table, “a Fed cut doesn’t guarantee relief,” especially when looking at recent rate trends.

The weak jobs report released last week pushed 30-year rates closer to the 6.5% range, but economists warn the risk of inflation could drive them back up.

Growing concerns about the weakening labor market and inflation could impact the Federal Reserve’s next decision on interest rates.

The national median sale price for single-family homes dipped to $410,800 in the second quarter, while the median price of existing homes rose to $429,400.

July’s employment report suggests the labor market has been weakening for some time, which could prompt the Fed to cut rates in September — if inflation eases.

The latest economic and housing data suggests that home sales will continue to plod along at a slow pace as buyers and sellers wait for more certainty.

Despite increasing calls for cuts, Fed Chair Jerome Powell held steady on rates as inflation remains elevated, and he has made “no decisions about September.”

Buyers have more leverage now than in recent years, but economic concerns are making them cautious in their home purchase decisions, two new reports suggest.