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
Consumer
Stories for and about homebuyers, sellers, the housing market and the forces that shape the real estate landscape.
- 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
- ‘Inflated’ agent fees cost consumers thousands, report claimsStandard commission practices harm consumers and fail to reward good agents (or discourage bad ones), according to a new report from the Consumer Policy Center.January 22, 2026
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- Trump’s housing-related order leaves ‘key questions’ hangingThe president mentioned his executive action and addressed other housing concerns while speaking at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 21.January 21, 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
- 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
- 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
- Trump housing proposals don’t address biggest challengeThe proposals Trump has announced thus far don’t involve boosting housing supply, which economists and industry leaders say must occur to improve affordability.January 12, 2026
- Former Fed chairs slam ‘attacks’ on Jerome PowellFed Chair Jerome Powell said he will continue “standing firm in the face of threats” after the DOJ served the central bank with a round of grand jury subpoenas.January 12, 2026
- Trump kicks off 2026 with 2 major housing-related mandatesEconomists were skeptical of the president’s corporate buyer ban but praised his mortgage bond purchase proposal. Plus, a Fannie-Freddie IPO is still possible.January 9, 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
- Economists react to Trump’s corporate home purchase banSome real estate economists say the plan announced by the president on Jan. 7 won’t address the key issues at the heart of the housing affordability crisis.January 8, 2026
- Trump ‘taking steps’ to ban corporate home purchasesThe president announced a plan to prohibit “large institutional investors” from buying single-family homes, saying more housing proposals would be coming soon.Updated January 22, 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
- Top stories of 2025: Fed moves, Zillow battles and buyer angstLast year, our readers focused their attention on the Federal Reserve, Zillow’s listing changes (and legal woes), and the direction of the housing market.January 5, 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
- Court orders White House to keep CFPB funded — for nowPlus, the president plans to announce his Fed chair nominee in January; HUD Secretary Scott Turner said “more research” on 50-year mortgages is needed.December 30, 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
- Zillow wrapped: What buyers searched for in 2025Home shopper keyword searches on Zillow revealed a preference for adaptable homes with regional characteristics over square footage and luxury.December 26, 2025
- Borrowers who use Zillow Home Loans pay more, study suggestsA disputed report, which received funding from Zillow competitor CoStar, found that ZHL borrowers paid more than those who used other lenders between 2022-2024.Updated January 5, 2026
- 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
- Homeowners insurance realities set in after recent floodsDestructive flooding in Washington state led many to discover that standard insurance policies don’t cover flood damage — an issue homeowners face nationwide.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
- Buyers, sellers feeling good about their prospects in 2026Optimism runs high — even as consumers and agents foresee more economic uncertainty ahead, a new survey found. And nearly everyone is worried about money.December 13, 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
- 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
- Housing will ‘be a problem,’ Fed chair warns after rate cutA divided Fed worried about inflation and the softening jobs market cut short-term interest rates by 25 basis points on Dec. 10 — the third such cut this year.December 10, 2025
- Buyers eye 2026 as the year to make their moveA recent survey of prospective buyers found that most are motivated to close in the next year, and many are willing to pay more for certain amenities.December 9, 2025
- What to expect from the Fed this week — and in 2026Investors expect the central bank to cut short-term interest rates by 25 basis points — but the Fed’s economic projections could keep mortgage rates sticky.December 8, 2025
- Mortgage rates drift lower ahead of Fed’s December meetingEconomists say the market “widely expects” another rate cut — but the central bank will be making its next decision without key jobs and inflation data.December 4, 2025
- Economists expect ‘a reset’ for housing in 2026, ‘not a rebound’With the U.S. economy at a crossroads, real estate economists have differing home sales forecasts for 2026 — but most expect mortgage rates to continue to drop.December 4, 2025
- Homebuyers have reasons for hope heading into the holidaysThough demand dropped off ahead of Thanksgiving, falling mortgage rates and an uptick in loan applications are good signs for the market’s slow season.November 26, 2025
- New, existing home costs nearly identical — will that last?In Q3 of 2025, there was only a $30 difference in the monthly payments for typical new and existing homes, a new report from Realtor.com suggests.November 25, 2025
- Rising insurance costs are chipping away at home valuesHigh premiums are dragging down home values by $40K+ in areas at greater risk of extreme weather events, a National Bureau of Economic Research study found.November 25, 2025
- What Fed officials are saying about a December cutThe BLS won’t be releasing any new inflation or jobs data before the Federal Reserve's final meeting of 2025, leaving FOMC members in the fog.November 24, 2025
- Strong jobs report casts doubt on third rate cut in 2025A long-awaited jobs report beat expectations, but unemployment also ticked up. Meanwhile, existing home sales have increased as mortgage rates stabilized.November 20, 2025
- One benefit of the slower housing market? Less buyer regretHome maintenance, the costs of necessary household items and the impact of a home purchase on savings topped the list among recent buyers who did have regrets.November 20, 2025
- The 2nd-fastest-growing tech company? It’s a real estate firmWith revenue up nearly 30,000% over three years, upstart brokerage LPT Aperture Holdings took second place in Deloitte’s 2025 Technology Fast 500 list.November 19, 2025
- Most buyer-friendly market in a decade isn’t moving the needleSellers outnumber buyers by 36.8%, according to a new Redfin report, but affordability challenges remain. However, economists say the market may shift in 2026.November 19, 2025
- Fed will be stuck with old jobs data when it meets in DecemberWith no access to Oct. or Nov. employment data before its meeting, a rate cut is uncertain. Plus, Dems want Pulte investigated; new CFPB head nominated; more.November 19, 2025
- Industry still vulnerable post-settlement, researcher warnsA fatigued DOJ and regulator inaction may embolden legally risky industry practices. It’s up to consumers to push for change, CPC’s Stephen Brobeck believes.November 18, 2025
- Will home sales see a post-shutdown bump?Transactions should pick up as delayed closings are completed, but economic uncertainty may keep demand subdued. Still, purchase applications jumped last week.November 14, 2025
- Closing the homeownership gap for service membersVeterans can afford far fewer homes than they could 10 years ago, but new programs — and savvy agents — can help more veteran buyers get to the closing table.November 11, 2025
- Does a 50-year mortgage really help homebuyers?While monthly payments would be lower, borrowers would pay significantly more over the life of the loan — and take on more risk.November 10, 2025
- Homeownership still the ‘American Dream’ — but it comes at a costAmericans are putting off marriage, kids and careers until they can afford a home, according to a new report from Coldwell Banker Affiliates.November 10, 2025
- Buyers are ghosting the housing market — here’s whyCheaper loans aren’t enough to get consumers excited about a market shaken by layoffs, missing data and mixed signals.November 6, 2025
- Off-MLS transactions cost sellers thousands, new report findsIn San Francisco, where the typical home costs over $1M, new data indicates the share of on-MLS listings is rising — and off-MLS sellers lose significant sums.November 6, 2025
- More layoffs at Fannie Mae; Fed cut off from private jobs dataPlus, a Fannie-Freddie IPO may not come until 2026, and the Senate advances an NAHB-backed bill even as the weeks-long government shutdown drags on.October 31, 2025
- Mortgage rates jump after second Fed cutThis week’s rate adjustment was expected, but the Fed indicated a December cut isn’t guaranteed. Meanwhile, pending sales fell flat despite earlier rate drops.October 30, 2025
- When giants buy giants: ‘Ghost ship’ sails on amid portal warsTrulia went from rival to teammate after Zillow’s 2015 acquisition, but new challengers emerged — including Rocket, with its purchase of Redfin, and Homes.com.October 30, 2025
- Data ‘fog’ drops odds of lower mortgage rates despite Fed cutThe central bank’s short-term interest rate cut on Oct. 29 was already priced in, economists say, which means mortgage rates may not drop much more.October 29, 2025
- When giants buy giants: How acquiring top rival changed ZillowIt was like Coke bought Pepsi when Zillow bought Trulia a decade ago, declaring a truce in what was then its biggest battle for home search dominance.October 28, 2025
- Fed rate cut still likely even as inflation ticks upWith the affordability strain already impacting real estate, higher inflation could further dampen buyer demand heading into the market’s slower time of year.October 24, 2025
- The shutdown’s main impact on housing so far? Buyer confidenceMortgage rates have dropped to 12-month lows, but pending sales have also fallen — an indication that buyers are cautious as the government remains shuttered.October 24, 2025
- Mortgage rates plunge to lowest level in over a yearThe 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has steadily inched closer to 6% over the past few months — but economists are warning buyers that rates may not drop much more.October 23, 2025
- Homeownership hasn’t been affordable in over 4 yearsHigher home prices, insurance costs and tax bills are countering the past few months of falling mortgage rates, which remain at relatively high levels.October 20, 2025
- We’ve seen this market cycle before — sort ofIn the 1980s, mortgage rates and home prices soared after a housing boom, then sales dried up — much like today’s market. Will our recovery look similar too?October 17, 2025
- Fed gov pushes for aggressive rate cut; CFPB to ‘close down’Stephen Miran warns of an “urgent” need for cuts — and wants the Fed to go big at its next meeting. Plus, a key housing bill advances; CFPB nears its final daysOctober 16, 2025
- Improving market conditions aren’t impressing would-be buyersMortgage rates ticked down this week and more homes are hitting the market, but demand has weakened.October 16, 2025
- Insurance challenges could impact the future of home salesAs climate disasters increase, insurers are retreating, leaving homeowners with fewer, costlier options — and causing home sales to fall out of contract.October 11, 2025
- New listings up, but pending sales slip in subdued marketMortgage rates are holding relatively steady around the lowest levels of the year, but buyers still aren’t committing as other economic concerns persist.October 9, 2025
- Consumers are fed up with today’s housing marketPurchase cancellations and listing withdrawals are up as frustration runs high among homebuyers and sellers, according to a trio of new reports.October 8, 2025
- The condo market offers opportunities for cash-strapped buyersCondo prices are still high, but they’re down in some large markets and more affordable than other property types. Plus, buyers have significant leverage.October 6, 2025
- In DC: FICO’s big move; affordable housing goals shiftPlus, HUD rolls out politicized messaging about the government shutdown; NAR pushes for a quick resolution amid “potential real-life impacts” on real estate.October 3, 2025
- A lack of economic data could leave the Fed, investors guessingThe government shutdown has delayed a key jobs report; if it drags on, there’s a risk that “the Fed gets it wrong” later this month when considering rate cuts.October 3, 2025
- ‘ByOwner’ offers FSBO sellers options — and no commissionsWith new owners and a new strategy, ByOwner.com hopes to attract sellers seeking DIY or flat-fee services via its “your lead” model and in-house brokerage.October 3, 2025
- Buyers have more leverage this fall — but less enthusiasmHope is dimming for renewed housing market activity amid a slowdown in mortgage applications, a drop in pending sales and persistent economic uncertainty.October 2, 2025
- How will the government shutdown impact mortgage rates?The overall impact on real estate is expected to be minimal at first. But economists say a lengthy shutdown would hinder the already sluggish market.October 1, 2025
- 5 states join FTC in suing Zillow, Redfin over rentals partnershipThe legal action brought by attorneys general in Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Virginia and Washington state comes a day after the FTC filed its own lawsuit.October 1, 2025
- Fed Gov Lisa Cook notches temporary win in Trump lawsuitIn an unsigned order, the Supreme Court delayed until January its decision on the president’s attempt to immediately remove Cook.October 1, 2025
- FTC sues Zillow and Redfin over rentals dealThe federal agency alleges the real estate giants broke antitrust laws when Zillow paid $100 million to become Redfin’s exclusive multifamily listings provider.September 30, 2025
- Mid-October is the best time to buy in 2025 — with a caveatNationwide trends point to Oct. 12-18 as the best week to buy a home in 2025, a Realtor.com analysis found, but mortgage rates are still a wildcard.September 29, 2025
- A government shutdown seems likely — will it affect real estate?The industry might not feel a direct impact, but a shutdown could intensify economic concerns that have slowed market activity for months. Plus: Fed, FHFA news.September 26, 2025
- Stalled existing home sales dim hope for a fall rallyMeanwhile, mortgage rates ticked back up after several weeks of declines — but 30-year rates are still holding close to 11-month lows.September 25, 2025
- Will the Compass deal change how homes are bought and sold?If Compass’ acquisition of Anywhere goes through, it could trigger a private inventory race with major implications for the brokerage ecosystem — and consumers.September 25, 2025
- Home sales to jump nearly 10% in 2026, forecasters sayMortgage rates are also expected to fall to 5.9% by the end of next year, according to Fannie Mae’s September Economic and Housing Outlook.September 23, 2025
- Is the US rental market up or down? It’s a little of bothRent prices have softened in a handful of major U.S. markets, but overall asking rents remain much higher now than before the pandemic.September 17, 2025
- Mortgage rates plummet; analysts now predict 3 Fed cutsWeak jobs data is expected to outweigh inflation numbers as the Fed considers a rate cut next week — which could be followed by more before the end of the year.September 11, 2025
- Judge temporarily stops Trump from firing Fed governorPlus, the BLS makes a significant downward revision to jobs numbers, and the president’s nominee to replace an ex-Fed official advances to a Senate vote.September 10, 2025
- Where rental investors can find good ROI — and less red tapeThe top cities for investors are largely located in Florida and Texas, where home prices are typically lower, demand is strong and regulations favor landlords.September 9, 2025
- In some college towns, buying a home is cheaper than dorm lifeTrading on-campus food and housing costs for those linked to homeownership can save up to $30,000 in three years in some college towns, a new report suggests.September 8, 2025
- Texas bans property sales to some international buyersGov. Greg Abbott said “foreign adversaries like China, Russian, Iran and North Korea” and terrorist organizations “must not be allowed to own land in Texas.”September 5, 2025
- Fed nominee grilled over Trump ties; Fannie, Freddie IPO plan pushedPlus, Trump signs trigger leads bill; DOJ investigates mortgage fraud claims linked to a Fed governor; advocacy groups call for a vote on key housing bill.September 5, 2025
- Fed rate cut ‘almost certain’ after ‘disappointing’ jobs reportThe U.S. economy added 22,000 new jobs in August — less than a third of what was expected — causing mortgage rates to plummet as real estate stocks climbed.September 5, 2025
- Mortgage rates continue 7-week decline ahead of key jobs reportA year ago, surprising jobs data sent rates soaring. This year’s Sept. 4 report could also be pivotal, potentially resulting in volatility heading into fall.September 4, 2025
- Homeowner households drop for the first time since 2016Meanwhile, renter households have jumped, Redfin reported, citing affordability and other issues. But lower home prices could “be the headline” in a few months.September 3, 2025
- Why are mortgage rates so hard to predict?It’s possible mortgage rates — which have recently hovered under 6.6% — will drop to 6%, one economist noted, but it could take a couple of years to get there.August 30, 2025
- In DC: Drama at the Fed as official fired by Trump sues to stayPlus, the FHFA approves Rocket’s acquisition of Mr. Cooper; the CFPB proposes new terminology around consumer risk, narrowing its supervision of nonbanks.August 29, 2025
- Offerpad enters meme stock territory as shares surgeThe iBuyer’s shares jumped over 85% on Aug. 28 — just a few weeks after Opendoor avoided delisting with some help from activist investors.Updated August 29, 2025
- Buyers give mixed signals as 'gridlocked' market persistsPending home sales remain sluggish, but mortgage applications — and home touring activity — have ticked up as 30-year rates hold at 10-month lows.August 28, 2025
- Why buyers shouldn’t count on a future refi to save moneyWhile 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.August 27, 2025
- Fed governor fired by Trump fights back: ‘I will not resign’A lawyer representing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said her termination “lacks any factual or legal basis.” She intends to sue to retain her position.August 26, 2025
- Buyers are turning away from new homes — unless they’re cheapNew 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.August 25, 2025
