Five Housing Market Predictions for 2025
By
Odeta Kushi on January 9, 2025
Key Points: Mortgage rates are expected to remain above 6 percent, but affordability may improve modestly due to positive wage growth and slightly lower rates. Inventory will remain historically low, with a slight increase expected if mortgage rates moderate. However, the mortgage lock-in effect will prevent a return to pre-pandemic inventory ...
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Supply Surge Improving Affordability in South and West
By
Mark Fleming on December 27, 2024
Key Points: Affordability fell by 4 percent on a month-over-month basis, the second consecutive month of decline. Yet affordability remains improved on an annual basis. Housing supply has increased nationally and in 49 of the top 50 markets we track on a year-over-year basis. As more homes are listed for sale, the power dynamics can shift in favor ...
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Signs of a Nascent Housing Market Recovery Emerge in November
By
Odeta Kushi on December 18, 2024
Key Points: Despite an increase in mortgage rates, leading indicators of sales point to a modest pickup in sales activity in November. Inventory turnover has steadily increased to reach 0.95 percent as of October 2024 —that’s 95 in every 10,000 existing homes for sale. The recent increase in inventory helps to coax some potential buyers off the ...
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Uncertain Mortgage Rate Outlook Clouds Affordability Heading into 2025
By
Mark Fleming on November 27, 2024
Key Points: Affordability fell by 2.6 percent on a month-over-month basis, snapping a four-month streak of improving affordability. House-buying power declined by more than $14,000 due to the increase in mortgage rates since October. If the average mortgage rate decreases to the year-end consensus industry forecast of 6.2 percent and annual house ...
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Thankful for Homeownership: A Look at Generational Trends
By
Sam Williamson on November 26, 2024
Key Points: The homeownership rate for millennials has consistently lagged behind previous generations by as much as 7 percentage points – despite higher education levels and similar incomes. Despite these setbacks, millennials have narrowed the gap as they near middle age, catching up to Gen X at age 38, and closing the gap more quickly than Gen ...
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Why are Mortgage Rates Increasing when the Federal Reserve is Cutting Rates?
By
Odeta Kushi on November 20, 2024
Key Points: Upwardly revised economic data, strong employment numbers, and the election have lowered bond market expectations for future rate cuts relative to the Fed’s projections, pushing up mortgage rates. Holding income constant, house-buying power decreased by more than $10,000 in October due to the 25-basis point increase in mortgage rates. ...
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