Housing affordability

Consumer confidence for home buying fell to its lowest point since December 2016, according to Fannie Mae.

With the economy and job market both healthy before the COVID-19 crisis, first-time homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates and hit their highest volume in two decades.

Consumer sentiment for home buying stayed near its record high behind low mortgage rates and a strong job market, though the declining stock markets and COVID-19 concerns may change that soon, according to Fannie Mae.

To help the housing crunch, a growing consensus of economists believe adding homes on lots where one already exists would benefit affordability and incrementally boost supply, according to Zillow.

Reduced construction and domestic migration in search of better job markets caused housing supply deficits in over half of the U.S., according to Freddie Mac.

Overall housing value growth remained steady in the fourth quarter with some states going way above the national average, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Home Price Index.

A deepening imbalance between entry-level buyers and sellers is creating stiff competition, and multiple offers for more than list price aren't unusual.

With inventory tight, roughly 80% of housing markets had purchase bidding competition in January and value appreciation is expected to increase in the coming months.

Quontic has rolled out a streamlined non-qualified mortgage refinance product that will not require the borrower to provide verifications or documentation.

While Seattle was the nation's fastest-rising housing market between 2016 and 2018, Tacoma now holds that dubious honor, according to Redfin.

While boosting origination volume for lenders and providing financial benefits for borrowers, the refinance boom could have adverse effects down the road, according to TransUnion.

Forget about Edina, Arden Hills and other coveted communities. A flight to affordability is upending the housing market in the Twin Cities.

From the heartland to the desert, here's a look at 10 housing markets where buyers are looking to move — and the high-cost markets they're leaving, according to Redfin.

Officials in Lakeland, Fla., are hoping they've found a strategy to lure private developers to build affordable single-family homes and apartments in the city.

Consumer sentiment about purchasing a home nears its record high as almost half of those surveyed said mortgage rates will stay at the current low levels, according to Fannie Mae.

A city agency that in recent years lost its luster as a place where low-income New Orleanians could go for low-interest mortgages is set to re-emerge as a key player in plans to develop more affordable housing in the city.

Galvanized by the Moms 4 Housing standoff that drew national attention to the region's affordability crisis, Oakland officials may soon overhaul the way homes are bought and sold and other Bay Area cities are considering similar measures.

With steady home price appreciation and falling interest rates, by some measures the shares of distressed mortgages existing in the market shrunk to record lows, according to Black Knight.

For people in their 20s and 30s, New Hampshire's home prices are rising as fast as their concerns over affording a place to live.

Homeownership is one of the fastest ways for people to build wealth and giving down payment assistance provides creditworthy borrowers an opportunity to buy a house they otherwise wouldn't have, according to the CBC Mortgage Agency.