Housing affordability

Some recipients of the new multimillion-dollar funding announced this week include several organizations partnering with historically Black colleges and universities.

Affordability improved for a fourth straight month, but questions remain about whether recent trends will bring a significant number of buyers into the housing market.

Sen. Tim Scott's housing bill calls for Congress to play more of a role in reviewing public intervention in housing while reforming or expanding certain programs.

Asked about inflation risks ahead, she pointed to the impact of housing on the consumer price index, describing it as the "stickiest piece." Stripping out housing, the U.S. consumer price index is only rising about 1.8%, she said.

Subsidies for first-time homebuyers, such as the one proposed by Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, will only stoke demand and exacerbate the crisis, writes the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

The average payment fell to $2,140 from $2,167 in June, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Without considering the potential of building equity in a property, in 48 of 50 markets renting was better; appreciation flips that to 29 cities in favor of buying, First American said.

Inflation and housing affordability are the two top election-year issues among home buying consumers, according to a new report from Veterans United Home Loans.

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.

Moderating price growth and higher wages are leading to affordability relief, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.