Housing affordability

Houses selling well at lower price points are likely to encourage the creation of more entry-level homes, according to a new report by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.

Home sale prices posted their smallest annual gain since March 2012 and mortgage rates have declined, leaving bidders less inclined to race for a deal, but at the same time, a cooler housing market suggests more consumers may be willing to explore homeownership.

While home prices continued the gradual annual growth in February, its plateaued monthly progression could open a big spring for mortgage lending, according to Quicken Loans.

Home price appreciation tapered as buyers battling tight inventory and rising housing costs pulled back from the market, according to CoreLogic.

Minneapolis' offering of affordable starter homes and inflated supply of below-median-priced options made it the housing market with the highest low-income ownership rate, according to Redfin.

Home purchaser affordability declined in the fourth quarter, which also negatively affects the amount Americans have to spend on cost-of-living expenses, a report from Zillow said.

Rises in the amount of low down payment loans and private mortgage insurance due to tight affordability led to the most first-time homebuyers since 2006, according to Genworth Mortgage Insurance.

Slower home price growth and cooled mortgage rates could bring buyers out in droves in 2019, according to NerdWallet.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose in December at the slowest pace in four years, continuing to decelerate as buyers balked at purchases amid still-elevated housing costs and a falling stock market.

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.