Housing News Archive

Fri, October 3, 7:22 PM

4% Gain in Pending Home Sales Isn't Exactly What it Seems - Fri, October 3, 7:22 PM

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)—which tracks contract signings on existing homes—ticked higher in August, but remains locked in the same flat, depressed rang...

Fri, October 3, 7:03 PM

Home Price Growth May be The Lowest in Years, But Home Prices Remain Near All-Time Highs - Fri, October 3, 7:03 PM

Both the FHFA and the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller indices published updated home-price data this week. The message hasn’t changed: prices are still higher than a year ago, but the pace of grow...

Fri, October 3, 6:47 PM

Mortgage Apps Drop Sharply, But It Was Still The 3rd Best Week in 3 Years - Fri, October 3, 6:47 PM

Mortgage application activity dropped sharply last week as higher rates cut into both refinance and purchase demand. According to MBA’s Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 26...

Fri, September 26, 7:01 PM

Nothing New For Existing Home Sales - Fri, September 26, 7:01 PM

Existing-home sales held roughly steady in August after tepid uptick in July. That NAR reported a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.0 million , down 0.2% from July but 1.8% higher than a year...

Fri, September 26, 6:33 PM

Did Rates Have Anything to do With Big Surge in Home Sales? - Fri, September 26, 6:33 PM

New home sales surged in August, breaking a two-year stretch of range-bound activity. The Census Bureau and HUD reported a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 800,000 , up 20.5% from July’s revis...

Fri, September 26, 6:12 PM

Mortgage Apps Barely Advance Thanks to Previous Week's Momentum - Fri, September 26, 6:12 PM

Mortgage application activity technically hit another long-term high last week, but that's only because it was riding the coattails of the previous week's stellar momentum. According to MBA’s Wee...

Fri, September 19, 5:49 PM

Builders Counting on Lower Rates to Break the Traffic Jam - Fri, September 19, 5:49 PM

Builder confidence levels continued kicking a sad little can down the same long and lonesome road. The September National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI...

Fri, September 19, 5:30 PM

Big Drop in Building Permits, But Construction Pace is Still Fairly Steady - Fri, September 19, 5:30 PM

The Census Bureau’s latest Residential Construction report showed a mixed picture for August, highlighted by a sharp drop in building permits. Total housing starts (the groundbreaking phase of co...

Fri, September 19, 4:50 PM

Biggest Jump in Mortgage Applications Since 2021 - Fri, September 19, 4:50 PM

What a difference a week makes for mortgage application demand. As we noted last week, mortgage rates were already trending lower than those captured in the weekly survey numbers from MBA and F...

Wed, September 10, 3:34 PM

Obvious Signs of Life in Mortgage Apps Thanks to Rate Rally - Wed, September 10, 3:34 PM

Mortgage applications jumped 9.2% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s survey for the week ending September 5, 2025. The results included an adjustment for the Labor Day hol...

Wed, September 3, 7:35 PM

Refi Demand Improves While Purchase Applications Edge Lower - Wed, September 3, 7:35 PM

Mortgage applications decreased modestly last week, with overall volume slipping 1.2%. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey showed a decline in the seasonally adjusted Composite Index...

Wed, August 27, 8:37 PM

Home Prices Still Growing, But at The Slowest Pace Since 2012 - Wed, August 27, 8:37 PM

Both the FHFA and the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller indices published updated home-price data this week. The takeaway remains the same: prices are rising year-over-year, but at an increasingly s...

Wed, August 27, 8:19 PM

New Home Market Remains Stuck in Neutral - Wed, August 27, 8:19 PM

The latest New Home Sales report showed little change in July, with sales holding very close to June’s pace. The seasonally-adjusted annual sales rate came in at 652,000. This marks a -0.6% dip...

Wed, August 27, 7:56 PM

Mixed Mortgage Demand, But Lower Rates Should Help Next Week's Refi Numbers - Wed, August 27, 7:56 PM

Mortgage application activity was little changed last week, with only a fractional decline in overall volume. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey showed a 0.5% decrease in the season...

Thu, August 21, 2:53 PM

Existing Home Market Still Crawling Along The Bottom Despite Modest Bounce - Thu, August 21, 2:53 PM

After sliding back in June, existing-home sales picked up in July. The latest update, released August 21, shows a modest rebound. Sales rose 2.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.01 mi...

Wed, August 20, 4:39 PM

Mortgage Applications Inconsequentially Lower vs Last Week - Wed, August 20, 4:39 PM

Mortgage application activity eased last week, but not in a statistically significant way. One might be inclined to note a very slight uptick in mortgage rates , but it's just as fair to s...

Tue, August 19, 7:17 PM

Incentives Rise as Builder Confidence Matches 2022 Low - Tue, August 19, 7:17 PM

Builder sentiment remains deeply subdued, as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo’s Housing Market Index (HMI) dipped one point in August to 32—its 16th straight month...

Tue, August 19, 6:51 PM

Multifamily Construction Surge Masks Weaker Building Permit Pipeline - Tue, August 19, 6:51 PM

The latest Residential Construction report from the Census Bureau showed a sharp rebound in July, with overall housing starts climbing 5.2% to a 1.428 million annual pace. Multifamily activity le...

Wed, August 13, 1:51 PM

Refi Demand Surged as Rates Hit Longer-Term Lows - Wed, August 13, 1:51 PM

Mortgage application activity surged last week as sharply lower mortgage rates boosted refinance demand and gave purchase applications a modest lift. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly s...

Fri, August 8, 5:16 PM

Falling Rates Spark Modest Rebound in Mortgage Applications - Fri, August 8, 5:16 PM

Mortgage application activity rebounded last week as falling rates boosted both purchase and refinance demand. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey for the week ending August 1, 2025,...

Fri, August 1, 7:28 PM

Mortgage Applications Fall as Rates Held Near Highs - Fri, August 1, 7:28 PM

Mortgage application activity fell last week, reversing prior momentum and highlighting continued softness in both purchase and refinance demand. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey ...

Fri, August 1, 6:07 PM

Pending Home Sales Slip Again, Underscoring Market Stagnation - Fri, August 1, 6:07 PM

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)—which tracks contract signings on existing homes—has remained rangebound for more than two years, constrained by affordabilit...

Fri, August 1, 5:48 PM

Home Prices Still Rising Year-Over-Year, But Momentum Is Fading - Fri, August 1, 5:48 PM

Both the FHFA and Case‑Shiller released the latest update on home price appreciation this week. Actually, in the current case, it's more like home price depreciation (at least in month over month...

Thu, July 24, 7:54 PM

Buyers See More Choices, Lower Prices in New Home Market - Thu, July 24, 7:54 PM

The latest New Home Sales report (released today) shows a slight uptick in June after last month’s sharp drop. The seasonally‑adjusted annual sales pace rose to 627,000. This represents a modes...

Wed, July 23, 3:40 PM

High Prices and Rates Keep Home Sales Near Cycle Lows - Wed, July 23, 3:40 PM

Two months ago, existing home sales hit a five-month low. Last month’s report showed a minor rebound. This month’s update, released July 23, shows a return to weakness. Sales declined 2.7% in J...

Wed, July 23, 1:01 PM

Mortgage Apps Eke Out Small Gain Thanks to Purchase Activity - Wed, July 23, 1:01 PM

Mortgage application activity managed a modest increase last week despite slightly higher rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey showed a 0.8% rise in the seasonally adjust...

Fri, July 18, 7:05 PM

Rising Rates Hit Mortgage Apps, But Pace Remains Better Than 2024 - Fri, July 18, 7:05 PM

Mortgage application activity dropped sharply last week as rates moved higher, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey. The Composite Index fell 10.0% on a seasonally ...

Fri, July 18, 6:51 PM

Builder Outlook Ticks Up Despite More Price Cuts and Less Buyer Traffic - Fri, July 18, 6:51 PM

Builders are placing their better days in the future according to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo's latest Housing Market Index (HMI). Buoyed by longer-run expecta...

Fri, July 18, 6:41 PM

Builders Breaking More Ground, But Not on Single Family Homes - Fri, July 18, 6:41 PM

The latest Residential Construction report from the Census Bureau showed a mixed bag for June, with a modest gain in overall housing starts driven by a rebound in multifamily construction, while ...

Wed, July 9, 1:17 PM

Big Jump in Mortgage Demand, But Rates Are Already Rising Again - Wed, July 9, 1:17 PM

Mortgage application activity bounced higher last week following a drop in rates to the lowest levels in 3 months. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey showed a 9.4% increase in...

Thu, July 3, 2:41 PM

Refis Pick Up Steam as Rate Relief Returns - Thu, July 3, 2:41 PM

Mortgage application activity moved higher last week as rates declined to the lowest levels since April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey. The Composite Index r...

Fri, June 27, 3:36 PM

Pending Home Sales Data Scores Some Points, But Not Enough to Change The Game - Fri, June 27, 3:36 PM

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)—which tracks contract signings on existing homes—has remained rangebound for more than two years, constrained by affordabilit...

Fri, June 27, 3:06 PM

New Home Sales Drop to Lower End of Range After Hitting The Highs Last Month - Fri, June 27, 3:06 PM

New Home Sales fell sharply in May according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD. After a brief surge in April, the seasonally adjusted annual pace dropped to 623,000—down 13...

Fri, June 27, 2:48 PM

Mortgage Applications Buoyed by FHA Refis - Fri, June 27, 2:48 PM

Mortgage application activity moved slightly higher last week despite a modest uptick in rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey. The Composite Index rose 1.1% ...

Fri, June 27, 2:34 PM

Existing Home Sales Tick Up Slightly, but Remain Near 6-Month Lows - Fri, June 27, 2:34 PM

Two months ago, existing home sales reached the highest levels in a year according to the National Association of Realtors. Last month’s report showed a noticeable dip to 5‑month lows. The latest...

Tue, June 24, 7:00 PM

Home Prices Fell More Than Expected in April - Tue, June 24, 7:00 PM

Both the FHFA and Case‑Shiller home price indices were released today. While the data collection time frame is from April, they each suggest a similar shift is underway when adjusting for seasona...

Fri, June 20, 6:08 PM

Housing Starts Slide in May, But Single-Family Holds Steady - Fri, June 20, 6:08 PM

The latest Residential Construction report from the Census Bureau showed a noticeable drop in overall housing starts in May, though single-family activity managed a small gain. Building permits a...

Fri, June 20, 5:32 PM

Mortgage Applications Slip Despite Lower Rates - Fri, June 20, 5:32 PM

Mortgage application activity declined modestly last week despite a drop in rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey. The Composite Index fell 2.6% on a seasonal...

Fri, June 20, 5:23 PM

Homebuilder Sentiment Just a Bit Gloomier - Fri, June 20, 5:23 PM

Builder sentiment declined for the second straight month according to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo's latest Housing Market Index (HMI). The headline index dropp...

Fri, June 13, 4:49 PM

Purchase Demand Near 2 Year Highs; Refis Bounce Back - Fri, June 13, 4:49 PM

After a Memorial Day-induced lull, mortgage application activity rebounded sharply last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey. Both purchase and refinance dema...

Fri, June 6, 6:22 PM

Application Demand Ebbs For Both Purchases and Refis - Fri, June 6, 6:22 PM

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest survey showed a pullback in mortgage applications, with rates dipping slightly after a three-week climb. The week’s numbers were also affected by t...

Fri, May 30, 10:03 PM

Pending Home Sales Slip, But the Broader Story Remains the Same - Fri, May 30, 10:03 PM

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)—which tracks contract signings on existing homes—has spent more than two years stuck in a rut, held back by affordability con...

Fri, May 30, 9:43 PM

Purchase and Refi Demand Diverge Again - Fri, May 30, 9:43 PM

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly application survey continues to track closely with the more granular daily rate data from MND. Both showed mortgage rates climbing to new multi-m...

Fri, May 30, 8:59 PM

Home Prices Falling or Growing Less Quickly? - Fri, May 30, 8:59 PM

Both FHFA and Case Shiller released home price data this week with some mixed messages for the housing market. The first thing to remember about the major home price indices is that they run abou...

Fri, May 23, 7:07 PM

New Home Sales at 3 Year High, Maybe... - Fri, May 23, 7:07 PM

The Census Bureau reported New Home Sales for April today, and at face value, the news is good. Economists expected an annual pace of 692k, but were instead treated to a surprisingly high 7...

Fri, May 23, 6:17 PM

No Major Change For Existing Home Sales - Fri, May 23, 6:17 PM

Two months ago, existing home sales came in at the highest levels in a year according the the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Last month's report showed a fairly sharp decline to 5 month ...

Fri, May 23, 5:39 PM

Mortgage Demand Impacted by Rising Rates - Fri, May 23, 5:39 PM

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly application survey has been doing a good job of tracking with the more granular daily rate data from MND. Both are in agreement that rates were on ...

Fri, May 16, 8:11 PM

Housing Starts Buoyed By Multi-Family Sector - Fri, May 16, 8:11 PM

The Census Bureau is out with monthly construction numbers for April showing an uptick in construction activity offset by slightly lower permitting. While there are several other metrics in...

Fri, May 16, 7:52 PM

Builder Confidence Near Post-Pandemic Lows, But Timing is Everything - Fri, May 16, 7:52 PM

The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo released the monthly Housing Market Index (HMI) this week, showing builder confidence falling to the lowest levels since 2023. ...

Fri, May 16, 6:16 PM

Purchase Demand Moves Back Toward 2 Year High; Refis Hold Steady - Fri, May 16, 6:16 PM

Home purchase demand improved improved last week according to the MBA mortgage application survey. The improvement over the previous week was fairly modest, but the index was already the 4th high...

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