Weekly Housing Headlines

The average U.S. homeowner lost approximately $9,200 in equity during the past year; mortgage applications increased 29.7% from one week earlier; August new home purchase mortgage applications increased 1.0%; the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.26% for the week ending September 18; and housing starts fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.31 million in August.

Home equity growth stalls amid modest home price increase
Cotality - 9/12/2025
The average U.S. homeowner lost approximately $9,200 in equity during the past year, but that still leaves the average borrower with about $307,000 in accumulated home equity.

Mortgage Application Payments Increased in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - 9/17/2025
Mortgage applications increased 29.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 12, 2025.

August New Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Increased 1.0 Percent
Mortgage Bankers Association - 9/16/2025
Applications to purchase newly constructed homes remained higher than last year, although the monthly pace of applications slowed from July.

Mortgage rates haven’t been this low in nearly a year. Thank the Fed — but not entirely
CNN Business - 9/18/2025
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.26% for the week ending September 18, down from 6.35% last week, according to data released Thursday by Freddie Mac.

U.S. housing starts and permits tumble as market softens
Mortgage Professional America - 9/17/2025
Housing starts fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.31 million in August, down from 1.43 million (8.5%) in July and 1.39 million (6%) in August 2024.

Builder Confidence Steady but Future Sales Expectations Hit Six-Month High
Eye On Housing - 9/16/2025
Builder sentiment levels remained unchanged in September, but lower mortgage rates and expectations that the Federal Reserve will soon cut the federal funds rate led to higher future sale expectations in the coming months.

What Are Today’s First-Time Home Buyers Compromising On?
The Mortgage Reports - 9/12/2025
While a 47% share of recent first-time home buyers reported no lifestyle trade-offs, 23.5% chose to purchase a fixer-upper, according to The Mortgage Reports’ Summer 2025 First-Time Home Buyer Survey.

Housing Costs Keep Climbing, Squeezing Both Buyers And Renters
National Mortgage Professional - 9/12/2025
The median selected monthly owner costs — a bundle that includes a mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, and association fees — rose to $2,035 in 2024.

California housing market expected to see modest rebound in 2026 as affordability edges up
Mortgage Professional America - 9/18/2025
California’s housing market was set for a modest recovery in 2026, according to the California Association of Realtors, which forecast a 2% rise in single-family home sales and a 3.6% increase in the median home price.

Weekly Housing Trends: Latest Data as of Sept. 13
Realtor.com - 9/18/2025
The housing market remains sluggish, with early signs of price softening. Despite recent declines, historically high mortgage rates and affordability pressures are still holding many buyers back.