Weekly Housing Headlines

Mortgage applications decreased 1.0% from one week earlier; the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.66% in the week ending August 27; U.S. home prices rose 1.5% year over year in June, up from 1.2% in May; sales of new single-family homes fell in July; mortgage applications for new homes fell 5.7% from a year ago; active inventory climbed 4.0%, the median listing price fell 2.1%, homes spent less time on the market than they did a year ago and new listings grew 1.2%.

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - 8/26/2026
Mortgage applications decreased 1.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 21, 2026.

30-year mortgage rate climbs, approaching 2026 peak
Mortgage Professional America - 8/27/2026
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed one basis point to 6.66% in the week ending August 27, pulling the benchmark loan within three basis points of its highest reading this year and erasing any near-term hope of relief for purchase-intent borrowers.

June brings modest home price pick-up amid uneven recovery
Cotality - 8/25/2026
U.S. home prices rose 1.5% year over year in June, up from 1.2% in May. The 10-City and 20-City Composite indices increased 2.9% and 2.1%, respectively, continuing to outpace the national index.

New home sales retreat in July
Mortgage Professional America - 8/25/2026
Sales of new single-family homes fell in July, erasing much of the momentum the sector tentatively rebuilt and extending a year-over-year slide that has become a defining feature of the U.S. housing market.

Weekly Housing Trends: U.S. Market Update (Week Ending August 22, 2026)
Realtor.com - 8/27/2026
This week's year-over-year data shows that active inventory climbed 4.0%, the median listing price fell 2.1%, homes spent less time on the market than they did a year ago and new listings grew 1.2%.

Where ‘Affordability Refugees’ Are Moving as High Prices Push Them Out
Realtor.com - 8/25/2026
Cross-market home searches on Realtor.com topped 60% across the 100 largest U.S. metros this spring, up from roughly 48% in 2019, with housing affordability overwhelmingly dictating whether buyers stay or go.

Stable Credit Scores Mask Growing Mortgage Affordability Divide
National Mortgage Professional - 8/25/2026
Average payments for first-time buyers have climbed 57% since 2019, while serious delinquency is becoming concentrated among lower-scoring borrowers.

Seasonal Spotlight: How Sellers Sidestepped Another Cruel Summer
Realtor.com - 8/24/2026
The biggest difference between this year and last is how seller behavior changed in response to unexpectedly less-favorable conditions. They understand it’s a low-demand environment, they have adapted better to market signals and they’ve gotten real on price.

New-Home Demand Slows as Mortgage Applications Drop in July
MortgagePoint - 8/21/2026
Mortgage applications for new homes fell 5.7% from a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association Builder Application Survey data for July.

Higher mortgage rates drag housing affordability lower in Q2
Mortgage Professional America - 8/21/2026
A family earning the national median income of $106,800 would need to allocate 34% of earnings to cover the mortgage payment on a median-priced new home in Q2. That's up from 32% in the first quarter of 2026.