Housing markets

Roughly 40,000 home-purchase agreements were canceled in December, equal to 16.3% of homes that went under contract,according to a report from Redfin.

A record amount of equity is now held by property owners 62 and older, with a growing share transferring homes to their heirs and not putting them up for sale.

Prepayment speeds approached recent highs last month, but distressed borrower data paints a mixed picture about the current housing market, according to ICE.

Trump, during his return from Davos, signaled reluctance to allow 401(k) withdrawals for home down payments, but other tax-advantaged options remain on table.

Reducing agency loan pricing adjustments and credit reports may help, a trio of industry groups wrote in a letter to the National Economic Council's director.

An index of contract signings decreased 9.3% to 71.8 last month, according to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors.

President Trump's restrictions on institutional investors extend to single-family homes involved in loan workouts by government-related mortgage agencies.

The President is promising big announcements on housing affordability issues in Switzerland, but will it include ending the GSE conservatorships?

Hartford, Connecticut, topped Zillow's list of the hottest housing markets this year on the back of its nation-leading home-price appreciation forecast.

A consumer retreat contributed to the trend, which may be getting a closer look as the Trump administration weighs a ban on institutional purchases.

Confidence among US homebuilders unexpectedly fell in January, as costly sales incentives outweighed a recent boost from lower mortgage rates and the president's housing proposals.

NAHB's remodeling index finished at its highest mark in a year, with the current industry outlook standing in stark contrast to homebuilder sentiment.

Mortgage applications for new-home purchases decreased 15.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Contract closings rose 5.1% to a 4.35 million annualized pace last month, the highest since February 2023, according to figures released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors.

Sales of new homes in the US were little changed in October near the strongest pace since 2023 as builders lured anxious customers with price cuts and incentives.

The survey, taken before Pres. Trump's $200 billion MBS buy demand, finds panelists worried over inflation, but also see employment as the larger downside risk.

Trump's proposed $200B MBS purchase briefly tightened mortgage spreads, but analysts question the long-term impact on mortgage rates and GSE balance sheets.

Home prices are now something Americans can wager on. Polymarket partnered with Parcl to offer prediction markets tied to housing price indices.

With ongoing affordability issues, the Federal Housing Administration program will keep taking low down payment market share from the private mortgage insurers.

Housing starts in the US fell in October to the lowest level since the onset of the pandemic as data delayed by last fall's government shutdown showed builders continued to cut back amid still-high prices and mortgage rates.