Housing markets

Contract closings decreased 2% from a month earlier to a 3.96 million annualized pace, National Association of Realtors data showed Thursday.

Residential starts increased 7% last month after falling by the most in over a year in August, according to government data released Wednesday.

Providing support to affordable rental developments is a key component in the Biden administration's efforts to increase housing supply.

Homebuilder sentiment fell to a nine-month low in October, the latest indication of the toll on residential real estate from soaring mortgage rates and declining affordability.

The bottom five cities in the ranking have an average total score of 30.48.

The lucrative broker commission system at the heart of the residential housing market is facing unprecedented antitrust scrutiny from the Justice Department and two private class-action lawsuits that risk weakening the National Association of Realtors, the industry's powerful lobbying group.

Expected income earned through rental of the units will be considered in underwriting for FHA-backed mortgages and rehabilitation loans.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker said higher interest rates are making it more challenging for first-time home buyers by raising borrowing costs and limiting inventory, which is also leading to higher home prices

The top five cities in the ranking have an average total score of 64.5 out of 100.

But even as housing costs slowed on a quarterly basis, they still came in 5.3% higher than a year ago, according to Fannie Mae's Home Price Index.