Purchasing power

Contract signings to purchase previously owned U.S. homes increased in May, indicating Americans may be responding to declining mortgage rates.

From Seattle to Pittsburgh, here's a look at the 12 best housing markets for homebuyer purchasing power, characterized by a favorable combination of local wages and lower property values and mortgage rates.

If current inventory shortages continue, rising costs will limit housing options for many American buyers and renters, according to a new Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies report.

Home-price gains in 20 U.S. cities decelerated in April for a 13th straight month to the weakest pace since 2012, indicating further moderation in the housing market, particularly in once-hot West Coast areas.

People electing to remain in their primary residence for longer periods took more potential home sales out of the market than lower interest rates and higher income brought in, according to First American.

Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since September 2017, with the 30-year down 17 basis points as worries over foreign trade policy continued to roil the markets, according to Freddie Mac.

From secondary markets along the East Coast to the heart of the Midwest, here's a look at cities where consumers are losing ground in purchasing power as summer approaches, based on changes in housing values compared to local wages and mortgage rates.

Millennials closed mortgage loans at their fastest pace in four years as lower interest rates pushed up purchasing power and incentivized them to pull the trigger, according to Ellie Mae.

Growing wages combined with flat mortgage rates handed homebuyers' increased affordability with a 2.4% boost in purchasing power for February, according to First American Financial Corp.

If favorable interest rates and rising consumer incomes continue, market potential for home purchases will be boosted in the short term, according to First American Financial.

The tightest housing markets in the U.S. are unwinding in time for the key spring selling season, giving buyers an edge for the first time in years, a Trulia study said.

From the middle of the country to the Pacific Northwest, here's a look at cities where consumers wield the most purchasing power for the upcoming home buying season, based on changes in housing values compared to local wages and mortgage rates.

The gap between potential and actual existing home sales is narrowing even though supply shortages still vex the market, according to First American’s latest report.

From New York to Seattle, here's a look at cities with the best homebuyer purchasing power for the upcoming competitive spring market, based on changes in house values compared to local wages and mortgage rates.

Rising household incomes paired with December's drop in mortgage rates gave consumers their largest monthly jump in home buying power since 2013, according to First American Financial Corp.

Home affordability is at a 10-year low across the nation. Here's a look at the 12 cities most in danger of a housing bubble in 2019.

Women have lower incomes than men, limiting their options when buying a house. But in some of the more pricey housing markets, single female homeowners outpace single male homeowners, which could suggest some tightening in the home value gap, according to Attom Data Solutions.

The Spokane, Wash., housing market is bucking national trends, with home prices continuing to rise here.

Dallas-area home price gains slightly outperformed the national average in November.

Rising construction costs and a big drop in public funding is forcing an organization that builds inexpensive homes for low-income buyers in the Bay Area to sell them for higher prices than many of those people can afford.