Mortgage rates

Mortgage applications increased 6.8% from one week earlier as this summer's surprise purchase demand has carried over to the fall, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

But the group is more conservative than Fannie Mae when it comes to interest rate movements over the next six quarters.

Outside the densely populated coastal hubs, annual home sales grew by leaps and bounds, as buying patterns shifted toward more space with less emphasis on proximity to urban centers, according to Redfin.

Sales of previously owned homes remained brisk in August as low mortgage rates and demand for space in the suburbs sustained strength in a housing market that’s a bright spot for the economy.

August was a blockbuster month for home sellers across the 16-county metro, despite the global pandemic and a coming presidential election, which typically puts buyers on edge.

A combination of pent-up demand, low inventory and rock bottom interest rates is making it extra tough for homebuyers with government-backed loans.

Home starts fell more than forecast in August, reflecting less construction of apartments and a decline in the tropical storm-hit South, representing a pause in momentum for a housing market that's been a key source of fuel for the economy.

Mortgage rates remained relatively flat, rising a single basis point off of last week's record low, according to Freddie Mac.

Low rates, along with increased new and existing home sales activity drives the latest forecast.

U.S. homebuilder optimism rose to a record in September, with low mortgage rates driving a housing boom that has boosted the pandemic economy.