By the Numbers

Nearly a quarter of first-time buyers may wait even longer, to see if down payment help or other candidate promises materialize in 2025, a Redfin survey found.

Buyers are left wondering if they should wait for rates to fall again, as some economists expect, or act now “and worry about rates secondly.”

Consumers were considerably more upbeat about the housing market in September, but rising mortgage rates may put a damper on their enthusiasm.

While higher levels of employment is good news for real estate in the long term, rising rates may put a damper on home sales this fall.

Mortgage rates remain relatively low, and buyer activity, including home tours and mortgage purchase applications, are up.

Home Price Index went up 4.1%, while starter homes are more affordable than they’ve been in four years — in part due to a shift in perspective.

Home prices also will increase, with the median at more than $900,000, C.A.R. predicts. But the recent drop in mortgage rates may help would-be buyers.

The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, allows agreements to be extended — but not automatically. It was created in response to the NAR settlement.

While touring is up, mortgage purchase applications and pending sales are subdued. Inventory shows some promise, but “extra stale” listings have increased.

August numbers were down nearly 5% from July, but came in better than a year ago and are still expected to outperform existing home sales in the coming months.

Florida, North Carolina and Texas dominate a new report sizing up the top 10 markets for real estate investment.

Housing issues have made their way into presidential politics, but federal policies are unlikely to make a dent in the undersupply in the short-term.

Existing homes sales were down 4.2% year-over-year as prices kept climbing, keeping buyers sidelined. The good news: Inventory continues to build.

Economists are divided over whether rates will continue to drop — and whether “the dam is going to break” and unleash a flood of buyers.

The board took an aggressive approach with its 50-basis point cut, and signaled that two more cuts are coming this year.

Housing starts and completions rose year-over-year, and builders expressed more confidence this month — but a significant housing shortfall remains.

While a rate cut — which could further drive down mortgage rates — would help homebuyers, there are other headwinds at play in the final months of 2024.

The downward trend hasn’t fired up buyers (yet), but predictions of more cuts this year could move rates closer to 5% and amp up the market next spring.

A bright spot in a tough market? The best time to buy in 2024 — and save upwards of $14,000 — is just weeks away, says Realtor.com.

A Fannie Mae survey found that despite sour attitudes about homebuying, there’s hope that rates and prices will decline — and a geographic divide over selling.