According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were virtually unchanged last week across most loan programs  — a positive sign for prospective buyers watching rate volatility closely. Conforming 30-year fixed mortgages, FHA loans, and 15-year fixed rates held steady , while jumbo loans and 5/1 ARMs experienced slight increases . Despite a week-over-week pullback, overall mortgage demand is still significantly high

In today’s shifting housing landscape, homebuyers may finally be gaining the upper hand. In real estate, conditions strongly depend on the balance between supply and demand — and whenever there are more homes for sale than active buyers , negotiating power shifts toward the buyer. Sellers have to price more competitively and offer stronger incentives, creating far better opportunities for those looking to purchase a home. That market environment is becoming increasingly commo

Homeowners are still capturing significant equity gains when selling their properties, according to the latest Q3 2025 U.S. Home Sales Report  from ATTOM Data Solutions . The report shows that homeowners who sold a single-family home or condo  in the third quarter achieved an average profit margin of 49.9%  — slightly higher than the 49.3% recorded in the previous quarter . Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, says homeowner profits have shown impressive resilience. “Profit margins rema

Before the pandemic, all-cash buyers accounted for roughly 29% of U.S. home purchases . But as market conditions shifted, that number began to rise. Even with today’s slower housing activity, cash buyers still represent a major share of transactions  — and they’re not backing down anytime soon. According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website , 32.8% of homebuyers in the first half of 2025 purchased their home entirely in cash . Danielle Ha

Mortgage approval isn’t just about income and credit score — it’s also impacted by overall credit availability  in the lending market. When mortgage credit conditions are loose , borrowers have more options and flexibility. When credit is tight , approvals become stricter and buyers need stronger financial profiles to qualify. To monitor these shifts, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)  publishes the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI)  — a leading indicator of how

The rate of new home construction  has a powerful impact on today’s housing market. Whether you’re actively house-hunting or just watching prices, the number of new homes being built  determines how much competition buyers face and how affordable housing remains overall. When inventory is low — as it has been in recent years — new home construction  helps stabilize prices, expand options, and create balance between housing supply and buyer demand . According to the latest Hom

The final walk-through  is your last chance to confirm the home’s condition before you sign closing documents. It isn’t a full inspection; instead, it’s a focused verification that the property is in the agreed-upon condition, repairs are complete, and nothing has changed since you made your offer. Most buyers schedule the walk-through 24–48 hours before closing  with their agent present. Use this guide—and the checklist below—to make sure you don’t miss anything when it matt

Now that the summer housing market has come and gone, the latest data provides a clear picture of what really happened — and it’s great...

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index , one of the most trusted and widely cited measures of U.S. home price trends , shows...

The housing market showed signs of renewed momentum in August, as pending home sales increased for the second month in a row. According...

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) , sales of previously owned homes  were flat in August compared to the prior...

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey , average mortgage rates  declined last week compared to...

When most people think about the housing market, spring  usually comes to mind as the hottest time of year. Sellers list their homes,...

For years, the biggest challenge in the housing market has been the shortage of homes for sale. With too few existing homes available,...

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey , average mortgage rates  fell again last week, marking...

When most people think about buying a home, insurance isn’t always the first thing on their minds. But as homeowners insurance costs...

One of the most reliable ways to measure the health of the housing market  is by looking at a key metric called “months of supply.”  This...

Access to mortgage credit  isn’t fixed—it shifts depending on lending standards, loan programs, and overall market conditions. Sometimes...