Weekly Housing Headlines

September new home purchase mortgage applications decreased 8.3%; mortgage applications decreased 2.7% from one week earlier; the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage held at 7.40% for the week ending October 15; existing-home sales increased by 1.5% month-over-month and decreased by 2.2% year-over-year; 2027 mortgage originations are expected to fall 5%; roughly 150,000 homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages face their first, and much higher, interest rate adjustment this year; and the home is now the most expensive part of what is considered the American Dream, with homeownership costs totaling nearly $1.28 million.

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September New Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Decreased 8.3 Percent
Mortgage Bankers Association - 10/15/2026
The increase in mortgage rates in September had a chilling effect for new home purchase activity. Both mortgage applications and new home sales declined and fell further behind last year's pace.

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage Bankers Association - 10/14/2026
Mortgage applications decreased 2.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 9, 2026.

30-year mortgage rate holds at 7.40%
Mortgage Professional America - 10/15/2026
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage held at 7.40% for the week ending October 15, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, a benchmark for homeowners eyeing a refinance, eased to 6.71% from 6.73%.

Existing-Home Sales Increased 1.5% in September, According to NAR Report
National Association of Realtors - 10/13/2026
Existing-home sales increased by 1.5% month-over-month and decreased by 2.2% year-over-year, according to the National Association of Realtors Existing-Home Sales report.

2027 mortgage originations to fall 5% to $1.99 trillion, MBA forecasts
Mortgage Professional America - 10/12/2026
The headwinds affecting the mortgage market are unlikely to subside anytime soon, and the higher-for-longer rate environment is forecast to take its toll on originations in 2027.

Thousands of homeowners face adjustable-rate mortgage resets – and much higher payments
CNBC - 10/13/2026
About 150,000 homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages face their first interest rate adjustment this year, with 64,000 scheduled for a shift from August through December, according to ICE Mortgage Technology.

How Much Does The ‘American Dream’ Cost Now?
MortgagePoint - 10/9/2026
The cost of the American Dream is rising faster than our paychecks can cover it, according to a new Investopedia analysis. The home is now the most expensive part, with homeownership costs totaling nearly $1.28 million.

High-End Homebuyers Are Flocking to Areas With Top-Rated Public Schools – Here’s Where
Realtor.com - 10/14/2026
Luxury buyers often have plenty of options when it comes to a home. However, one of the primary drivers for luxury buyers is location, and a strong school system can be a deciding factor.

Cotality: Hurricane Isaias threatens about 777,000 homes along the northern Gulf Coast as a major hurricane
Cotality - 10/9/2026
Reconstruction cost value of homes at risk of wind damage in the eight counties under a Hurricane Warning totals about $241.6B.

September 2026 Hottest Housing Markets
Realtor.com - 10/9/2026
Kenosha, WI claimed the top spot in September for the first time since January 2026. Buyer demand remains highly concentrated in the hottest markets, where listings attracted 2.6 times the national average number of views per property.