Jiayi Xu

After the Fed’s quarter-point rate cut in September and the possibility of additional cuts later this year, we expect mortgage rates to remain in the low 6% range through year-end. These lower rates should provide some relief for homebuyers who have faced elevated borrowing costs in recent years, likely drawing more buyers back into the market.

The Freddie Mac 30-year mortgage rate declined 3 basis points to 6.27% this week, as investors continued to assess developments in the new tariffs on China.

Buyers and sellers are entering the markets cautiously, with lower mortgage rates. See weekly trends in listings, inventory, prices, and time on the market for fall 2025.

Mortgage rates fall to 6.19%, boosting home listings and improve affordability, but buyer confidence remains cautious amid economic and job concerns. See weekly trends in listings, inventory, prices, and time on the market for fall 2025.

Home equity declined modestly in Q3 2025 as home values eased and mortgage debt rose to a new high, according to Flow of Funds data from the Federal Reserve. Despite the dip, homeowner equity remains near record levels by historical standards.

Get the latest U.S. housing market trends, including inventory shifts, listing activity, prices, and buyer-seller dynamics, with fresh weekly data and insights.

When mortgage rates surged in 2023, homebuyers across the country responded by putting more cash down and borrowing less—but in the Bay Area, something else was happening. Tech workers were converting AI equity into cash at an extraordinary scale, pushing luxury down payment shares to 38.3% in 2023 and keeping them elevated through 2024 and 2025, even as comparable markets like Miami, Austin, and New York City fully retreated. The data points to a new dynamic in Bay Area luxury housing—one where the barrier to entry is no longer just price, but access to the kind of sudden, concentrated wealth that only the AI boom can generate.

In the first quarter of 2026, the Federal Reserve's Flow of Funds data revealed that the total value of owner-occupied real estate climbed to a new record high of $48.7 trillion. Mortgage debt also continued its upward trajectory, reaching an all-time high of $13.8 trillion. As a result, home equity rose to $34.9 trillion.

May 2026 marks the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year decline for 0-2 bedroom properties across the 50 largest metros. The national median asking rent fell $26, or 1.5%, compared to a year ago.

Every year, millions of Americans search for a home — weighing price, location, and what they can afford. With 23.1% of U.S. homes — representing $11.2 trillion in value — exposed to at least one type of severe or extreme climate risk from wind, flood, and wildfire, understanding the financial impact on that decision has never been more important.