According to the National Association of Realtors the typical first-time homebuyer was 35 years old in 2025.  That’s down from 36 in 2024 and from a recent high of 38 in 2018, according to a new report. Repeat buyers’ median age fell to 47, down from 52 in 2024. Why this matters to you NAR’s […]

Mortgage rates are currently stable, with the national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.16%, only slightly above its recent low. While mortgage rates have been gradually declining since May, they remain above 6%, and experts are uncertain about future reductions in 2026. Factors that could lead to lower mortgage rates include proposals from […]

Three metrics that measure competition in the U.S. housing market each dropped to the lowest September level in six years last month. Share of homes selling above list price: 25.3% of homes that sold went for more than their final list price, down from 28.5% a year earlier. Average sale-to-list-price ratio: This metric came in at 98.6%, […]

In short, no. You probably shouldn’t wait to buy a home until mortgage rates drop more drastically. Mortgage rates are just one part of the affordability equation. You also have to consider home prices, a factor of housing supply and demand. The current housing market is in a crunch. To put it simply, buyers outnumber […]

The Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut, while anticipated, doesn’t automatically translate into lower mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are complex and are influenced by several factors, including the 10-year Treasury yield, investors’ expectations about the economy, and inflation. This means that even with the Fed signaling further rate cuts, mortgage rates could still rise if inflation […]

After a period of sustained high interest rates, the real estate market has been defined by a “lock-in” effect, where homeowners with low-rate mortgages have been hesitant to sell, leading to limited inventory and high prices. However, with the Federal Reserve widely anticipated to lower its benchmark interest rate this fall, the housing landscape could […]

As previously reported, both the House and Senate passed bills to ban “trigger leads,” except in limited circumstances, although the versions of the bills that were previously passed are slightly different. The one difference is that the House-passed version calls for a Government Accountability Office study on the value of trigger leads by text message. By […]

With a growing gap between supply and affordability, a new report from Cotality reveals the U.S. housing market is seeing a significant shift in what defines a “starter home.” Once characterized by modest new builds on the outskirts of town, the starter home is now more likely to be an older, smaller property — and it’s commanding […]

In a shift that underscores changing dynamics in the housing market, baby boomers now make up the largest generational group of home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors®.   NAR’s 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report, which examines the similarities and differences among recent home buyers and sellers across generations1, found that the […]

When deciding whether to buy a home in today’s climate, you’ll want to think beyond market conditions and focus on your individual circumstances. Here are some personal considerations to keep in mind. Financial health Take stock of your current savings, credit score, and debt. Can you afford a home? Or does renting make more sense?  Housing is a […]