Housing markets

Pent-up demand and the rapid pace of home appreciation is fueling the ongoing rise in home prices, even as mortgage rates present obstacles for buyers.

Tax liens have so-called super priority in repayments, even placing ahead of a previously filed mortgage.

More than two-thirds of the counties most at risk of a housing downturn were concentrated in five states, according to a new report from Attom.

The potential impacts of import tariffs cloud the outlook, though, and could lead mortgage rates to surge and fall throughout the coming year.

Meanwhile, home prices are set to grow 3 to 4% in 2025, a Fitch report predicts.

The latest refinance surge helped lift total application activity up for a second straight week, even as purchases fell, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Most participants in a monthly Wolters Kluwer survey no longer think the next short-term rate reduction will be in March.

On an annual basis, home prices grew by 4.2% in November, FHFA's index found.

Higher mortgage rates will persist through 2026, affecting sales and refinancings. Those expectations led Fannie Mae to cut its volume outlook for the next two years.

Even though senior home values are still near the all-time high, other data shows fewer are turning to reverse mortgages to ease a potential financial crunch.

The share of underwater mortgages also grew for the first time in almost two years during the third quarter, Corelogic found.

The latest plans include details on promoting housing development in underserved areas and increasing secondary market access to rural institutions.

Those born between 1997 and 2012 will go from making up a scant 6% of today's market to a 25% share by 2028, and mortgage lenders need to be ready to serve them.

Some lenders are once again hiring mortgage lenders, but memories of the painful staffing cuts they were forced to make over the past two years remain top of mind.

Origination volumes grew across nearly all sectors of commercial real estate on both a quarterly and yearly basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Fed's short-term rate cut hasn't lowered 30-year mortgage rates, which have been flat, but some buyers had reasons to act sooner rather than later.

Affordability improved for a fourth straight month, but questions remain about whether recent trends will bring a significant number of buyers into the housing market.

Rising property values continue to buffer mortgagors against negative equity situations, Corelogic said.

Purchases managed a small rise, but refinance activity held steady, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

About 85% of U.S. homeowners have interest rates below 6%, while a little over 50% of homeowners have a rate below 4%, Redfin's report said.