Despite a slight dip in mortgage rates, the MBA reports that mortgage application volume has fallen to lows last reported in December 1996, as rates and housing inventory continue to serve as major barriers to entry into the housing market.
Most Recent Articles
U.S. Home Price Growth Slows to ‘Weakest Performance Since Mid-2023’
September’s Case-Shiller data shows decelerating national gains, widespread monthly declines, and sharp weakness across Sun Belt metros as higher mortgage rates cool demand. The post U.S. Home...
Pending Home Sales on the Rise as Lower Rates Unlock Pent-Up Demand
The National Association of Realtors has reported that contract signings increased from September but remain below last year’s levels, reflecting affordability challenges and uneven regional...
MortgagePoint Webinar – The Human Multiplier: Where AI Stops and Expert Ops Begin
Join MortgagePoint, Global Strategic, and Rocktop for an exclusive webinar that will delve into how lenders can move beyond pure AI automation and build “human-in-the-loop” operating models that...
ICE First Look: Mortgage Prepayments Hit 3.5-Year High
Andy Walden, Head of Mortgage and Housing Market Research at ICE said softening mortgage rates have helped push prepayments to the highest point in years. The post ICE First Look: Mortgage...
Government News Roundup: Bessent Talks Recession Risks; FHFA Announces Caps, Loan Limits
Scott Bessent says he is confident Americans will feel economic relief next year generated by President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda and trade deals. U.S. Federal Housing makes major...
Buyer vs. Investor: Cities Where Each Get the Upper Hand
According to a recent Realtor.com study, first-time homeowners have a significant advantage over investors in large metro regions where the upside for speculative buyers is limited by strict...
Gen Z and Millennials Gain Ground in Homeownership as Market Shifts
“Millennials and Gen Z remind us that, while the journey to homeownership may lengthen, the destination remains the same,” said Sam Williamson, Senior Economist at First American. The post Gen Z...
Jobs Report, Slowing Labor Market Complicate Fed’s December Rate Decision
"Hold or cut, there will likely be multiple dissents," one economist said. The Fed vote could be a close call. The post Jobs Report, Slowing Labor Market Complicate Fed’s December Rate Decision...
Great Financial Crisis: How Two Major Sources of Risk Have Been Contained
Writing for the NYU Furman Center, former Freddie Mac CEO Donald Layton examines the lasting effects of the Great Financial Crisis in a two-part series. In Part 1: How did the government, central...
Housing Market Outlook 2026: Moderate Growth Amid Market Crosscurrents
MBA Chief Economist Michael Fratantoni discusses origination volume, rate-path risks, fading lock-in effects, and the shifting labor market’s impact on credit quality. The post Housing Market...
Homebuyer Regret Falls Sharply as Market Slowdown Boosts Confidence
Buyer's remorse is trending downward as the U.S. housing market has recently changed from a fast-paced sellers' market to one that gives home purchasers more breathing room, as many Americans are...
New Home Listings Rise Toward Pre-Pandemic Levels
According to new commentary from Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, improving inventory is a crucial component of a long-term recovery for the nationwide housing market, as...
Mortgage Originations Dip in Q3 Despite Gains in Refis, HELOCs
According to ATTOM's Q3 2025 U.S. Residential Property Mortgage Origination Report, U.S. mortgage originations fell as mortgage activity eased. The post Mortgage Originations Dip in Q3 Despite...
Housing Market Outlook 2026: Affordability, Rate Lock-In, and the Risks Ahead
First American’s Chief Economist Mark Fleming breaks down affordability trends, life-event-driven demand, geographic price corrections, and the biggest risks shaping 2026. The post Housing Market...
Analysis Shows Cities With Highest Mortgage Delinquency Rates
A new study shows surging delinquency nationwide, with several cities facing the steepest increases amid high housing costs and financial strain. The post Analysis Shows Cities With Highest...
Senate Banking Committee Advances Key Senior Administration Nominees
FDIC, HUD, Ginnie Mae, and Treasury leadership picks move forward amid calls for stronger housing affordability and financial stability. The post Senate Banking Committee Advances Key Senior...
U.S. Rents Continue Slide as Housing Trends Shift
October 2025 marked the 27th straight month of year-over-year rent declines for 0–2-bedroom properties, with 20 of the 50 largest metros having transitioned from being dominated by local renters...
Housing Market Outlook 2026: Key Risks, Policy Shifts, and What Comes Next
From affordability fixes to insurance-market stress and the future of credit flow, John Comeau of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks shares what to watch in the year ahead. The post Housing...
NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows Rise in October
Sales increased in the Midwest and South, were unchanged in the Northeast, and fell in the West in October, the NAR reported. The post NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows Rise in October first...
Greystar Agrees to $7M Settlement in Rent‑Setting Algorithm Suit
The nation’s largest landlord will stop using software that incorporates competitors’ data, resolving a multi-state antitrust suit tied to RealPage-powered rent pricing. The post Greystar Agrees...