NAR Pending Home Sales Report Shows 0.8% Decrease in January
February 19 2026 | |
“Improving affordability conditions have yet to induce more buying activity,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “With mortgage rates nearing 6%, an additional 5.5 million households that could not qualify for a mortgage one year ago would qualify at today’s lower rates. Most newly qualifying households do not act immediately, but based on past experience, about 10% could enter the market—potentially adding roughly 550,000 new homebuyers this year compared with last year.”
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Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
February 18 2026 | |
“Mortgage applications rose last week as the lowest rates in four weeks helped to revive some refinance activity. Treasury yields ended the week lower as weaker data on retail sales and home sales outweighed better-than-expected readings on the job market for January,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Mortgage rates moved lower with the 30-year fixed rate decreasing to 6.17 percent, and all other loan types in the survey also declined."
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NAHB Expects Remodeling Growth in 2026 and Beyond
February 18 2026 | |
“There are many factors contributing to the continued growth of the remodeling market, including the aging housing stock,” said NAHB Economist Eric Lynch. “The typical age of a home has increased from 31 years old in 2006 to 41 years old in 2023. And with the dramatic rise in home equity post-pandemic, more home owners are able to finance remodeling projects that align with their needs.”
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Overall Housing Starts Inch Lower in 2025
February 18 2026 | |
“Single-family home building dipped in 2025 because of ongoing affordability challenges, fueled by high housing price-to-income ratios and elevated financing and construction costs,” said Buddy Hughes, a home builder and developer from Lexington, N.C. “NAHB expects single-family starts will move slightly higher this year, as mortgage rates are expected to moderate.”
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Ruling Protects North Carolina Homebuyers from Predatory Contracts
February 18 2026 | |
The Superior Court of North Carolina, Wake County, granted summary judgment in favor of the North Carolina Department of Justice, prohibiting MV Realty from collecting early termination fees, recording liens or otherwise clouding homeowners’ titles or enforcing other unfair provisions tied to decades-long real estate service agreements. The ruling delivers finality to more than 2,000 homeowners impacted by the company’s deceptive practices.
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Builder Sentiment Edges Lower on Affordability Concerns
February 17 2026 | |
“Builders reduced their expectations for future sales as buyers report affordability challenges, which is contributing to declining consumer confidence for the overall economy,” said NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes, a home builder and developer from Lexington, N.C.
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2026 Housing Outlook: Ongoing Challenges, Cautious Optimism and Incremental Gains
February 17 2026 | |
“The housing outlook in 2026 is one of cautious optimism as builders contend with rising material and labor prices and policy uncertainty, while builders and buyers alike should benefit from anticipated fiscal and monetary easing that will moderate housing finance costs and mortgage rates,” said Robert Dietz, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
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Mortgage Delinquencies Increase in the Fourth Quarter of 2025
February 12 2026 | |
“Mortgage delinquencies increased across all three major loan types – Conventional, FHA, and VA – in the last three months of the year,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis. “The most pronounced uptick was with FHA loans, which reached a delinquency rate of 11.52 percent, the highest level since the second quarter of 2021. While earlier-stage FHA delinquencies remained relatively flat compared to the previous quarter, later-stage, 90+ day delinquencies increased by 76 basis points. The FHA foreclosure inventory rate also grew to the highest level since the first quarter of 2020.”
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NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows 8.4% Decrease in January
February 12 2026 | |
"The decrease in sales is disappointing. The below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation this January make it harder than usual to assess the underlying driver of the decrease and determine if this month’s numbers are an aberration,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun.
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Low-Rise Multifamily Shows Strength at End of 2025; Other Segments Weak
February 12 2026 | |
“Multifamily developers are somewhat less optimistic than they were at this time last year—except in the market segment for garden or low-rise apartments,” said Debra Guerrero, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and government affairs at The NRP Group in San Antonio and chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Council. “Elevated construction costs and the local regulatory environment continue to be major headwinds to faster growth.
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Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
February 11 2026 | |
“Mortgage applications were relatively flat over the week, but it was a mixed bag for the different loan types. The 30-year fixed rate was unchanged at 6.21 percent, and conventional applications declined for both purchases and refinances as borrowers held out for another drop in rates or shifted to other loan types,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist.
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MBA Applauds House Passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act
February 09 2026 | |
“This legislation advances several core MBA priorities, including regulatory modernization, broader FHA multifamily financing, stronger rural housing programs, and better coordination across federal housing agencies. Many of these provisions also mirror the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act, reflecting broad, bipartisan consensus in both chambers that housing affordability action is needed.
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Commercial/Multifamily Borrowing Up 30 Percent in the Fourth Quarter of 2025
February 09 2026 | |
“The 30 percent increase in originations during the final three months of 2025 capped a much stronger year for commercial and multifamily mortgage lending, as activity for depositories increased sharply in the fourth quarter and for 2025 as a whole,” said Reggie Booker, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Commercial/Multifamily Research.
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MBA CREF Forecast: Total Commercial Mortgage Originations to Increase 27 Percent to $805 Billion in 2026
February 09 2026 | |
“The U.S. economy continues to grow, but unevenly. The job market is softening, driven primarily by a slowdown in hiring, while the pace of layoffs is beginning to pick up. Inflation is likely to rise further, at least in part due to the pass-through of tariffs to consumers,” said Fratantoni. “MBA forecasts that GDP grew 2.3 percent in 2025, but will slow in the next two years, with growth projections of 1.9 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2027. The unemployment rate will average 4.5 percent in 2026, up from 4.3 percent in 2025.”
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Home Prices Increased in 73% of Metro Areas in Fourth Quarter of 2025
February 04 2026 | |
Home prices rose in 73% of metro markets (168 out of 230) during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ latest quarterly report. This is down from 77% in the third quarter. Five percent of metro areas (12 out of 230) recorded double-digit price gains, up slightly from 4% last quarter.
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Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
February 04 2026 | |
“Application volume was down last week, led by a 14 percent drop in purchase applications. Winter Storm Fern likely had an impact as much of the country was snowed in, hampering homebuying activity,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “The annual increase in purchase applications was the weakest since April 2025. Refinance activity also decreased over the week, despite mortgage rates moving lower."
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NAR Opens Applications for 2026 Good Neighbor Awards
February 03 2026 | |
“Service is at the heart of what it means to be a REALTOR®,” said NAR President Kevin Brown. “The Good Neighbor Awards recognize members who strengthen neighborhoods, support families and help communities thrive through volunteer service. We are excited to see the nominations and celebrate the impact REALTORS® are making every day.”
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