Mortgage rates jump as inflation reality sets in
With no end in sight for the war in Iran, investors are growing increasingly nervous about how sky-high energy prices are impacting the U.S. economy.
May 15, 2026
Consumer
Stories for and about homebuyers, sellers, the housing market and the forces that shape the real estate landscape.
- Are homebuyers ready to look past current market conditions?Rising pending sales and loan activity suggests some buyers have “shrugged off the current economic and mortgage rate uncertainties and returned to the market.”May 14, 2026
- Inflation data deals ‘a double-blow’ to housing affordabilityConsumer confidence and purchasing power are weakening, with inflation jumping 3.8% in April amid rising energy prices.May 12, 2026
- Consumers increasingly wary of AI’s role in homebuyingEven though most buyers expect AI use, they want transparency, clarity and human verification of AI-powered real estate processes, a recent survey found.May 9, 2026
More Consumer
- Jobs report encouraging, but consumers remain pessimisticApril employment numbers were better than expected, but for buyers and sellers, “positive momentum matters more than any single month of data,” economists say.May 8, 2026
- Pending sales data brings ‘good news’ to lagging housing marketWhile economic uncertainty persists amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, “the math has shifted in favor of buyers,” according to Zillow’s chief economist.May 7, 2026
- Many homebuyers held back by financing misconceptionsA recent survey found that many prospective buyers are in possession of incorrect or outdated information. It’s up to agents to set the record straight.May 4, 2026
- ‘April delivered’ as spring homebuying season picks up momentumNew data shows increases in pending sales, new listings and touring activity — but geopolitical and job market concerns continue to challenge the spring market.April 30, 2026
- Fed keeps rates frozen as Powell prepares for leadership handoffIn what may be his final press conference as Fed chair, Jerome Powell urged support for a central bank “free of political influence.”April 29, 2026
- A third of homeowners won’t give up sub-6% rate ‘for any reason’More than 40% say rates would have to fall below 4% before they’d consider selling, but 10-20% do intend to move in the next five years, two surveys suggest.April 27, 2026
- Average monthly mortgage payments top $2K — a new recordOver the past five years, the average payment has jumped 44% — and breached $2,000 per month for the first time late last year, according to Realtor.com data.April 24, 2026
- ‘Crisis of confidence’ holding buyers back despite lower ratesMortgage rates fell again, but economic uncertainty remains a stubborn headwind. A bump in purchase applications may signal a shift — if buyers don’t back out.April 23, 2026
- Fed chair nominee feels the heat at confirmation hearingKevin Warsh, who will take over as Federal Reserve chair if confirmed, emphasized his independence as lawmakers pressed him on his loyalty to Trump.April 21, 2026
- Buyers have an advantage this spring — but will they show up?Sellers outnumber buyers nationally, but with mortgage rates and inflation up from February, the “spring housing market is still a bit of a toss-up.”April 20, 2026
- Homeownership varies by job type — but affordability still a factorWhile business professionals and people in management still have the highest rates of homeownership, service occupations have seen big gains in recent years.April 17, 2026
- ‘Increasingly worse vibes’ hampering spring housing marketThough mortgage rates are ticking down and home price appreciation has dropped year-over-year, widespread economic uncertainty continues sapping demand.April 16, 2026
- Share of first-time buyers sinks to record lowOnly 21% of recent homebuyers were first-timers, according to a new NAR report, with younger millennials accounting for the biggest year-over-year drop.April 15, 2026
- Nearly 1 in 10 home shoppers open to renting or buyingAbout 8% of Zillow users search for rental and for-sale listings simultaneously, with the share increasing in many of the country’s priciest metros.April 14, 2026
- Housing market in a ‘psychological freeze’ as confidence fallsInflation rose 3.3% in March and consumer confidence has hit a new low. Plus, judge upholds quashed Fed subpoenas; White House pitches $10.7B cuts to HUD; more.April 10, 2026
- 5-week rate climb ends — but sustained drop is ‘unlikely’Though the housing market had some momentum earlier this year, economists now say a “fog of uncertainty” has settled over the spring homebuying season.April 9, 2026
- Iran ceasefire may not quell mortgage rate volatilityRates fell today, but even if the situation in the Middle East improves, it will take time for the U.S. economy — and the housing market — to get back on track.April 8, 2026
- Tariffs ‘on track to exacerbate’ US housing shortageA new congressional report estimates that there are nearly 60K fewer home construction jobs now than before the president introduced “Liberation Day” tariffs.April 8, 2026
- Housing market may have finally ‘turned a corner’Zillow reports an uptick in web traffic for home listings, while ICE finds that today’s market is “better supplied and more balanced than in recent years.”April 6, 2026
- Strong jobs report scores ‘small win’ for housing marketThe 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
