Consumer

Mortgage rates ticked down this week and more homes are hitting the market, but demand has weakened.

As climate disasters increase, insurers are retreating, leaving homeowners with fewer, costlier options — and causing home sales to fall out of contract.

Mortgage rates are holding relatively steady around the lowest levels of the year, but buyers still aren’t committing as other economic concerns persist.

Purchase cancellations and listing withdrawals are up as frustration runs high among homebuyers and sellers, according to a trio of new reports.

Condo prices are still high, but they’re down in some large markets and more affordable than other property types. Plus, buyers have significant leverage.

Plus, HUD rolls out politicized messaging about the government shutdown; NAR pushes for a quick resolution amid “potential real-life impacts” on real estate.

The 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.

With 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.

Hope is dimming for renewed housing market activity amid a slowdown in mortgage applications, a drop in pending sales and persistent economic uncertainty.

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.

The 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.

In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court delayed until January its decision on the president’s attempt to immediately remove Cook.

The federal agency alleges the real estate giants broke antitrust laws when Zillow paid $100 million to become Redfin’s exclusive multifamily listings provider.

Nationwide 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.

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.

Meanwhile, mortgage rates ticked back up after several weeks of declines — but 30-year rates are still holding close to 11-month lows.

If Compass’ acquisition of Anywhere goes through, it could trigger a private inventory race with major implications for the brokerage ecosystem — and consumers.

Mortgage 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.

Rent prices have softened in a handful of major U.S. markets, but overall asking rents remain much higher now than before the pandemic.

Weak 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.