Weekly Housing Headlines

Homebuyers are canceling deals at a record rate, with more than 40,000 called off in December; home prices increased in November; mortgage applications decreased 8.5% from one week earlier; housing affordability improved nearly 10% in 2025; homebuyer affordability improved slightly in December; and new listings of U.S. homes for sale rose about 1% from a year earlier during the four weeks ending January 25, the first increase in more than two months.

Redfin Reports Homebuyers Are Canceling Deals at the Highest Rate on Record
Redfin - 1/26/2026
More than 40,000 U.S. home-purchase agreements were canceled in December, equal to 16.3% of homes that went under contract that month — the highest December percentage in records dating back to 2017.

U.S. home prices tick higher
Mortgage Professional America - 1/27/2026
The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s latest House Price Index showed a 0.6% seasonally adjusted gain from October and a 1.9% rise compared with November 2024, the fastest annual increase in 14 months.

November home prices stay flat as sales stall
Cotality - 1/27/2026
With buyers unable to meet sellers’ expectations, most participants are opting to wait until spring. Annual growth remained flat at 1.4% in November, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Index.

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - 1/28/2026
Mortgage applications decreased 8.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 23, 2026.

Housing Affordability Improves Nearly 10% In 2025 As Rates And Incomes Align
National Mortgage Professional - 1/28/2026
Housing affordability nationwide strengthened notably through 2025, with consumer house-buying power increasing about 9.8% year-over-year in November, according to the First American Real House Price Index.

Mortgage Application Payments Decreased in December
Mortgage Bankers Association - 1/29/2026
Homebuyer affordability improved slightly in December, with the national median payment applied for by purchase applicants decreasing to $2,025 from $2,034 in November.

Weekly Housing Trends: U.S. Market Update (Week Ending Jan. 24, 2026)
Realtor.com - 1/29/2026
Despite mortgage rates hovering just above 6%, the inventory of homes for sale continuing to grow and the pace of sales slowing, it appears that demand for homes just has not yet picked up much steam.

New Listings Rise For First Time in 2 Months As Lower Mortgage Rates Perk Up Homebuyers
Redfin - 1/29/2026
New listings of U.S. homes for sale rose about 1% from a year earlier during the four weeks ending January 25, the first increase in more than two months.

Refinance wave lifts prepayments as distress shifts to FHA borrowers
Mortgage Professional America - 1/26/2026
Refinance borrowers rushed back to the market in December even as serious distress continued to build at the edges of the mortgage system, particularly among FHA and VA borrowers, according to ICE Mortgage Technology data.

Homeowners Associations Continue to Grow in Prevalence, Price in 2025
Realtor.com - 1/27/2026
The share of homes for sale in the U.S. that are subject to a non-zero HOA fee reached 43.6%, up from 41.9% last year and 34.3% in 2019. The median HOA fee was $135, up from $125 last year and $108 in 2019.