Housing markets

Confidence among U.S. homebuilders fell for a third straight month in July as elevated interest rates weighed on sales and kept construction financing costs high.

The National Association of Realtors was looking to reverse the April decision from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed the Justice Department to reopen its probe into the group.

While the pace of consumer inflation is showing signs of slowing, building material costs are running counter to the trend, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Rising inflation has been an issue across the country, but these are the cities with the greatest challenges.

The new regulation goes into effect in early 2025 for properties financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Shares of real estate companies jumped as much as 3.1% Thursday for their biggest intraday gain of 2024, climbing to their highest level since March as investors snap up homebuilder, digital and commercial real estate stocks alike.

A trio of Federal Home Loan Banks this week publicized endeavors related to their affordable housing mission shortly after their regulator put out a request for input on that topic.

A growing number of states are tackling affordability struggles for middle-income renters, who have experienced the fastest increases in cost burdens over the past 20 years.

Declining refinance activity offset the growth in government-backed purchases, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Financial security is a concern for 31% respondents who said they feel less well-off than their parents or grandparents, a Nationwide survey found.