Affordability

Home prices expected to dip as supply and demand collide

U.S. home prices are projected to flatten in the third quarter and decline 1% year over year by the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a new report from Redfin. The company also expects mortgage rates to remain elevated near 7% through the end of the year. This marks a sharp reversal from more than […]

Home prices expected to dip as supply and demand collide Read More »

Where land-use regulations are driving up housing costs

President Donald Trump has made deregulation a policy pillar for his second term — and housing regulations are up for review. Homebuilders say that federal rules have driven up the cost of building a home. Many mortgage professionals want to release Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship. And there were no shortage of complaints

Where land-use regulations are driving up housing costs Read More »

Rural America isn’t immune to housing squeeze

Rural areas of the U.S. that have long been viewed as a refuge for affordable homeownership are now grappling with rising prices, limited inventory and increasing competition — pressures once thought unique to urban housing markets. “Even the term ‘affordable’ feels like a relic of the past,” said Jake Vehige, president of mortgage lending at

Rural America isn’t immune to housing squeeze Read More »

Inventory back to 2019 levels and what that means for 2025

To start things off, I have an announcement to make, today will be my last weekly article for Altos Research. I founded Altos nearly 20 years ago to bring a new level of analytics and data to the housing market. Two and a half years ago, Altos was acquired by HousingWire, and it’s been tremendously

Inventory back to 2019 levels and what that means for 2025 Read More »

MORE Seller Financing wants to debunk ‘the bad rap for wraps’

In an era of high mortgage rates and stagnant home sales, a real estate transaction model is making waves by reintroducing and standardizing a once-popular financing method. Ryan Leahy, the founder of MORE Seller Financing, said his company has created the first nationwide platform to bring consistency, compliance and clarity to seller financing — a

MORE Seller Financing wants to debunk ‘the bad rap for wraps’ Read More »

More home sellers and home sales in May

The weekly pending home sales picked up this week as expected, with 2.6% more pending home sales contracts started than a year ago. If you’re following the data closely, you know that home sales are still running at or below last year’s pace. Year to date, through the first week of May, we count 3%

More home sellers and home sales in May Read More »

Homebuyers turn to aging properties as construction lags

The median age of homes purchased nationwide reached a record high of 36 years in 2024, a significant jump from 27 years in 2012, according to an analysis released Monday by Redfin. The trend reflects a long-term slowdown in new home construction and growing affordability challenges. Buyers are increasingly turning to older properties, often out

Homebuyers turn to aging properties as construction lags Read More »