Weekly Housing Headlines

Mortgage applications decreased 6.4% from one week earlier; The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose eight basis points to 6.66% over the past week; purchase application payments decreased to $2,191 in June from $2,198 in May; for the first time in four years, home sales increased during the spring season; homes sold faster than they did a year ago for the second time in four weeks; and home equity loan volume increased 15% between 2021 and 2025, from 1.28 million to 1.47 million loans.

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - 7/29/2026
Mortgage applications decreased 6.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 24, 2026.

Even 15-year mortgage rates are above 6% now as Treasury yields spike
Scotsman Guide - 7/30/2026
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose eight basis points to 6.66% over the past week, casting an ominous shadow on the back half of the summer homebuying season.

Mortgage Application Payments Decreased in June
Mortgage Bankers Association - 7/30/2026
Homebuyer affordability improved in June, with the national median payment applied for by purchase applicants decreasing to $2,191 from $2,198 in May.

10 things to know about the property market: July 2026
Cotality - 7/30/2026
For the first time in four years, home sales increased during the spring season. Despite elevated mortgage rates, tight inventory and affordability challenges, buyers returned to the market. This renewal of interest is, however, uneven.

Weekly Housing Trends: U.S. Market Update (Week Ending July 25, 2026)
Realtor.com - 7/30/2026
Homes sold faster than they did a year ago for the second time in four weeks, a notable sign of demand finding its footing after a prolonged period of softness. Active inventory held above 1.1 million properties for the sixth consecutive week.

Home Equity Loans Capture Record Share As Homeowners Stay Put
National Mortgage Professional - 7/27/2026
Home equity loan volume increased 15% between 2021 and 2025, from 1.28 million to 1.47 million loans, according to a new analysis from real estate data provider Benutech.

FHA defaults fall 15% in June, but U.S. foreclosure starts hit six-year high
Scotsman Guide - 7/27/2026
The national delinquency rate rose five basis points in June to 3.55%, an increase Intercontinental Exchange Inc. described as “roughly half the typical seasonal rise” in its “first look” mortgage performance report.

Buyers Gain Negotiating Power In 41 Major Housing Markets
National Mortgage Professional - 7/30/2026
The typical home is selling below its list price in 41 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, according to a new analysis by Best Interest Financial and Clever Real Estate.

Home Price Growth Accelerates As Inventory Gains Slow
National Mortgage Professional - 7/28/2026
Annual home price growth reached 0.9% in First American Data & Analytics’ June Home Price Index report, its highest rate since August 2025.

U.S. home prices are still rising – just not where it counts
Mortgage Professional America - 7/28/2026
The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that its seasonally adjusted House Price Index rose 0.3% in May from the prior month, bouncing back from an unrevised 0.1% decline in April.