Strong jobs report scores ‘small win’ for housing market
The U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs in March, potentially bringing good news for household formation and mobility. But the momentum may not continue into April.
April 3, 2026
By the Numbers
Making sense of the data that impacts residential real estate.
- Housing market in a ‘holding pattern’ as rates hit 7-month highHomebuyers and sellers appear to be hesitating, with mortgage application activity stalling as weekly average rates hit 6.46% following five weeks of increases.April 2, 2026
- 1 in 2 homes spent at least 60 days on market in FebruaryWeak buyer demand and high home prices are contributing to the trend of listings lingering on the market, according to new Redfin data.March 30, 2026
- How rising energy prices could change the course of home salesA new forecast from Zillow’s chief economist shows just how much the current geopolitical situation could affect the 2026 U.S. housing market.March 27, 2026
More in By the Numbers
- The ‘primary barrier’ to this spring’s homebuying seasonWeekly average mortgage rates just hit another 2026 high — but not all of the latest economic data spells doom and gloom for real estate’s busiest time of year.March 26, 2026
- A spring without sub-6% mortgages? Blame the war in IranRates fell below a key threshold in February, setting the stage for a more promising home-shopping season. Now, we could be stuck in a familiar, anemic pattern.March 25, 2026
- Some homes are getting cheaper, creating an entry point for buyersWhile the median price of an existing home has remained relatively flat, prices of new and manufactured homes have fallen since the pandemic-era buying frenzy.March 24, 2026
- Sellers outnumber buyers by largest margin in over a decadeThere were 46.3% more homesellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market in February, according to Redfin data — the largest gap since at least 2013.March 23, 2026
- Hope for sub-6% mortgages evaporates as rates jump againThree weeks into the war in Iran, mortgage rates have climbed above 6.5% — the highest level in over six months — after dipping briefly below 6% in February.March 20, 2026
- Early-year new home sales ‘very disappointing’The year began with the slowest new home sales pace since October 2022. But inventory is up and the median price has fallen — both positive signs for buyers.March 19, 2026
- Mortgage rates hit 2026 high as peak homebuying season beginsConcerns about inflation and the wider U.S. economy are driving up mortgage rates as the housing market embarks on what is typically its busiest time of year.March 19, 2026
- Fed holds rates steady, but inflation could stymie spring salesMortgage rates didn’t shift significantly after the Fed’s unsurprising announcement, but rising prices — not rates — could be a bigger concern for homebuyers.March 18, 2026
- Housing market conditions ‘fragile’ as pending sales lagThe year-over-year decline suggests factors like economic uncertainty, affordability may “further tighten the market just as the buying season hits its stride.”March 17, 2026
- Pre-marketing could boost housing supply by over 10%: RedfinSome markets could see inventory go up if sellers have "the option to gauge interest in their homes before listing," according to a Redfin analysis.March 17, 2026
- Economic unease threatens early-year housing market momentumConcerns about the war in Iran are adding to widespread economic anxiety as mortgage rates — which recently hit three-year lows — start ticking back up.March 12, 2026
- Uptick in home sales could signal a modest reboundExisting home sales rose slightly in February, but lagged behind last year’s pace. How consumers react to economic uncertainty may be key to sales this spring.March 10, 2026
- Fed unlikely to change tactics despite weak jobs reportThe U.S. lost 92,000 jobs in February, but economists expect the Fed to stick to its wait-and-see approach while employment data remains “volatile.”March 6, 2026
- Home sales off to a slow start in March as Iran war unfoldsThe Middle East conflict “just added to the anxiety pile” for buyers and sellers already concerned about economic uncertainty, dampening sales activity.March 5, 2026
- How will the war in Iran impact the US housing market?After hitting three-year lows last week, mortgage rates jumped in the war’s first few days — but the rise could be temporary if the conflict doesn’t last long.March 3, 2026
- ‘Deeply rooted’ housing shortage worsened in 2025The U.S. had a deficit of 4.03M homes in 2025 — up from 3.8M in 2024 and the third-largest supply gap of the past 14 years, according to Realtor.com data.March 3, 2026
- Have mortgage rates finally reached the magic number?The average weekly rate dipped below 6% for the first time in more than three years — a threshold that could unlock buyers (and sellers) this spring.February 26, 2026
- Home shoppers have more buying power heading into springWhile affordability remains a challenge, lower mortgage rates and increases in inventory are giving buyers some wiggle room as they search for their next home.February 25, 2026
- If not low mortgage rates, what will unlock the housing market?The slowdown is increasingly tied to hiring confidence and stalled migration — not just sub-3% mortgages, according to Compass Chief Economist Mike Simonsen.February 24, 2026
- Are mortgage rates about to drop below 6%?Rates fell to 6.01% this week, the lowest level in more than three years. But homebuying activity remains sluggish even as affordability steadily improves.February 19, 2026
