Home prices

While listings are ticking up, house hunters are still struggling to find affordable properties. But thanks to high mortgage rates, there aren't enough buyers in the market to create the level of competition that would drive prices up more significantly.

The FHA-loan market, in particular, saw the share of piggyback originations increase over two years, while the pace of growth in conventional lending was more muted, Corelogic said.

A pick-up in home prices during spring buying season pushed the share of equity-rich households higher across the country, according to Attom.

The index of contract signings from the National Association of Realtors increased 4.8% to 74.3 in June, reflecting increases in all four major regions, the group said Wednesday.

Higher interest rates over the spring applied some downward pressure on prices, which still managed to grow by over 4% in the first five months of the year, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index.

Contract closings decreased 5.4% from May to a 3.89 million annualized rate, data released Tuesday from the National Association of Realtors show.

Rising inflation has been an issue across the country, but these are the cities with the greatest challenges.

More than 50% of aspiring buyers expect their next purchase will cost less than the latest median value, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

A gauge of contract signings from the National Association of Realtors decreased 2.1% to 70.8 last month, the lowest reading in data going back to 2001, the group said Thursday.

The pace of growth is more than double the recent historical average, adding further affordability hurdles for some homeowners.