Early 2026 housing data is beginning to show a clearer shift in market momentum, with multiple indicators moving in the same direction. HousingWire’s latest Housing Market Tracker data points to improving demand, steadier pricing dynamics and inventory growth that supports a more functional housing

Lower mortgage rates are driving increased housing demand in 2026, as shown by another positive week in our Housing Market Tracker data. Both weekly pending home sales and purchase application data posted gains last week — both week over week and year over year. My work over the years indicates that

Inherited homes accounted for a record share of U.S. property transfers in 2025, a shift in how housing supply reaches the market and challenging expectations that aging baby boomers who wish to downsize will unlock a surge of homes for sale. New data from Cotality shows that about 340,000 U.S. prop

Older U.S. homeowners held a record level of housing wealth in the third quarter of 2025, driven by rising home values and continued equity accumulation, according to the latest Reverse Mortgage Market Index (RMMI). Housing wealth among homeowners ages 62 and older rose 1.9% in the third quarter of

Fewer Americans are packing up and relocating, and when they do move, they are likely to stay within their current region, according to a new analysis published by Bank of America. The findings suggest that the era of a dramatic nationwide migration has faded, replaced by a quieter trend of househol

TikTok has finalized a deal to form a new U.S. entity with investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX, easing the threat of a nationwide ban and allowing the social media app to continue operating for more than 200 million American users. The company said Thursday that the new T

California has become a test lab for housing reform. The state stands as an ongoing experiment-in-process for how far lawmakers will go to legalize the development of more homes and how hard local officials and neighborhood activists will fight to stop it.​​ The latest flashpoint struck on Thursday,

CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced Friday that it has hired Sam Sharp as regional executive vice president, expanding the lender’s presence in the Chicago market. Sharp, who brings more than 23 years of mortgage industry experience, is known in the Chicago area for a borrower-focused approach and

The U.S. housing market is showing clear signs of a post-holiday recovery. Pending home sales climbed to 50,096 new contracts this week, a 25.7% increase from last week’s 39,841, as buyer activity rebounds from the typical holiday slowdown. The increase in buyer activity, combined with shifting mark

In the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, KB Home has unveiled a fire-resilient new-home subdivision designed and engineered to protect homeowners, buffer neighboring communities and potentially lower property insurance rates.  The homebuilder opened its model home and began selling

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)’s annual Performance and Accountability Report was published on Friday, revealing that the agency received clean audit results for fiscal year 2025 from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report disclosed that the GAO did not find any “material

President Donald Trump has floated proposals to make it easier for Americans to pull from their 401(k) retirement accounts to buy a home — framing the idea as a way to boost homeownership and financial stability. But financial experts say the strategy could undermine long-term financial security, pa

AmeriTrust Mortgage Corp. has appointed Shea Pallante as chief revenue officer as the lender pursues a growth strategy that includes expanding into nondelegated correspondent channels and more than doubling its monthly origination volume. A mortgage industry veteran, Pallante joins AmeriTrust from n

The federal tax bill passed in mid-2025 includes a provision marketed as “no tax on Social Security,” but it does not eliminate taxes on benefits. Instead, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expands deductions for older Americans, potentially reducing federal taxes for many retirees, a finance leader re

President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes has broad – even bipartisan – political appeal. Still, most housing experts doubt that it will exert a significant impact on affordability. The order could also pose risks for build

It is no secret that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has faced its fair share of legal challenges over the past few years. From the commission lawsuits, to an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to lawsuits over the three-way membership agreement and the now defunct, optional

In the mortgage industry, the initial reaction to President Donald Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% has been concern that the policy could ultimately backfire on would-be homebuyers. The cap might seem beneficial on paper, but the long-term consequences, including reduced cr

Newfi Lending, a national mortgage lender focused on non-QM originations, announced Tuesday that it’s expanding its debt-service-coverage ratio (DSCR) loan program to allow larger loan amounts, financing for rural properties and the use of qualifying cryptocurrency assets to meet reserve requirement

The rent stabilization bug has hit Providence, RI. Municipal officials there are jumping on the bandwagon with other cities and states whose local officials have adopted or are weighing the policy as a housing affordability strategy.​ Providence City Council President Rachel Miller, alongside counci