President Donald Trump suggested he would fire Scott Bessent if the Treasury secretary doesn’t help secure lower interest rates, expressing ongoing frustration with the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut rates more quickly. Trump’s remarks — made in a joking tone — come amid increased pressure on the administration from voters to lower the cost of […]
Trump quips he’ll fire Bessent if interest rates not lowered Read More »
Consecutive weeks of mortgage rate increases suppressed refinance activity, causing a notable fall in mortgage applications, the Mortgage Bankers Association found. The MBA’s Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.2% on a seasonally-adjusted basis from one week prior for the week ending Nov. 14. On an unadjusted basis, the Index
Mortgage activity falls as rates tick up again Read More »
After several years of high mortgage rates and hesitation from buyers, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface of the housing market. Sellers are reappearing. Buyers are re-engaging. And for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s movement happening again. No, it’s not a surge. But it is a shift – and it’s
The Housing Market Is Turning a Corner Going into 2026 Read More »
After a year of easing mortgage rates and slightly improved affordability, the U.S. housing market heads into 2026 with expectations for steady, if uneven, progress. First American deputy chief economist Odeta Kushi said a broader reset remains gradual. “There are no quick fixes — recoveries take time,” she said. “The trends of 2025 will continue
First American’s 2026 housing market forecast points to better affordability Read More »
The U.S. residential housing economy growth will have slowed by 1.1% this year, from 2% in 2024, a result of cost pressures derived from higher tariffs on builder supplies like lumber, labor issues and weaker consumer and homebuilder sentiment about the sector, Fitch Ratings said. Over the next two years, it expects restrained growth rates
Fitch flags cooling housing market through 2027 Read More »
A lot of buyers are stuck in “wait and see” mode right now. They’re watching rates hover a little above 6% and thinking, I’ll buy once they hit the 5s. Because who doesn’t want a better rate? But here’s the thing: that 5.99% number might not save you as much as you think. Affordability is
Would You Let $80 a Month Hold You Back from Buying a Home? Read More »
Mortgage rates rose by 2 basis points this week, but did not impact home purchase activity during the period, Freddie Mac said. “Rates for the 30-year and the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage essentially remained flat this week, but we did see purchase activity increase, which is encouraging,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Right now,
Homebuyer activity climbs despite minor rate uptick Read More »
Treasuries sustained small losses as the longest government shutdown on record ended and expectations for another Federal Reserve interest-rate cut next month eroded further. Yields were higher by as much as three basis points, led by tenors more sensitive to changes in Fed policy. The odds of a December rate cut assigned by the market have slipped
Treasuries stumble as shutdown ends and traders brace for swings Read More »
After the Federal Open Markets Committee reduced short-term rates by 25 basis points at each of its two most recent meetings, economists are mixed on whether the December meeting will have a third cut, the November Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicators study found. The survey was taken on Nov. 4 and 5, prior to
December Fed rate cut still on the table for most economists Read More »
Each year on Veterans Day, I take a moment to think about the Americans I served alongside – their courage, their families, and the quiet sacrifices that never make headlines. It’s a day to remember those who sacrificed and to honor those still building their lives after service. For many of us, that next chapter
How NewDay Home helps fulfill the VA’s promise of homeownership for our nation’s heroes Read More »