Low mortgage rates make owners feel locked in — and leave buyers in the cold

Dec 18, 2024
With the "lock–in effect" shrinking inventory, 1.7 million fewer homes were sold between 2022 and 2024, per a federal housing study. 
A reduction in supply driven by homeowners holding on to low-rate mortgages increased prices by 7%, said Jonah Coste with the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

The wealth gap between homeowners and renters is huge, a new report says

Nov 27, 2024
Homeowners' median net worth is about $400,000. Renters? Just $10,000, according to the Aspen Institute's Financial Security Program.
Home equity accounts for about half of the renter-homeowner wealth gap, according to the Aspen Institute.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Home Depot CEO cites "macroeconomic uncertainty" in earnings report

Aug 13, 2024
The company says customers are deferring big renovation projects because of high interest rates and economic worries.
When consumers spend less because they’re concerned the economy might not do so well, that can cause the economy to not do so well.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

A tax break to encourage homeownership primarily helps the wealthy

Jun 3, 2024
Economists argue the home mortgage interest deduction doesn't really work and costs the federal government tens of billions of dollars a year.
To be eligible for the home mortgage interest deduction, a buyer would have to be among the 11% of taxpayers who itemize their returns. Above, a home for sale in Damascus, Maryland.
Kimberly Adams/ Marketplace

In the Houston suburbs, a new-home market sizzles 

Mar 26, 2024
Builder incentives like interest-rate buy-downs and the relative affordability of the area are big draws for prospective buyers.
Houston-area real estate agent Lauren Flathouse said some builders offer incentives like lowered interest rates or free appliances to entice homebuyers.
Elizabeth Trovall/Marketplace

Mortgage payment on a typical home nearly doubled in last 4 years, report finds

Mar 1, 2024
According to real estate firm Zillow, the typical buyer pays $2,188 monthly — well above the 30% of median income guideline used to calculate housing affordability.
Homeownership now costs well over the 30% of median income that was once thought to equate to “affordable” housing in the U.S.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Profits from sales of median-price homes fell slightly last year, but are still pretty huge

Jan 25, 2024
People who sold a median-price home last year made more than $120,000 in profit on a typical sale, according to a new report out today from the property data company ATTOM.
High home sale profits might be a sign that the market is starting to normalize.
George Rose/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Homeowners are gaining equity, but it may be going untapped

Jul 31, 2023
A new report finds the rate of mortgage borrowers considered "equity rich" increased to 49% in the second quarter.
"Why would you refinance if you've got a mortgage of 3%, at a mortgage rate of 7%?" says Susan Wachter of the Wharton School.
Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images

Homeowner groups are trying to stop investors from buying up homes

Apr 20, 2022
Investor purchases made up more than 1 in 5 home sales in December, according to CoreLogic.
According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes dropped 2.7% in March from the previous month and 4.5% from March 2021.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

As unemployment skyrockets, so do mortgage loan delinquencies

May 21, 2020
April saw the biggest one-month jump in U.S. home loan delinquencies ever.
More than 3.8 million mortgage holders, 7.3% of all home loans, have already entered into forbearance plans as of April 30.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images