A strong jobs report ‘complicates’ the mortgage rate outlook
The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May, which could boost consumer confidence. But it ups the odds of a June rate hike and will likely keep mortgage rates elevated.
June 5, 2026
Consumer
Stories for and about homebuyers, sellers, the housing market and the forces that shape the real estate landscape.
- List prices see sharpest annual decline in nearly a decadeFalling prices, an uptick in pending sales and fewer price cuts could mean sunny months are ahead for the market — if inflation, mortgage rates stabilize.June 3, 2026
- FHFA director assumes new role; ex-Fed chair issues warningBill Pulte will still lead the housing agency while serving as acting director of national intelligence. Plus, Fed faces “credibility” threat; CFPB sued; more.June 2, 2026
- Existing home prices outpace new homes for 4th straight quarterThe quirky trend can be explained in part by the flexibility of home builders as they navigate higher material costs and persistent economic uncertainty.May 29, 2026
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- Homebuyer ‘malaise’ evident as sales, applications fallWith mortgage rates still elevated, pending and new home sales — along with mortgage applications — have all trended down as affordability weakens.May 28, 2026
- Investor purchases hit 6-year lowReal estate investors are pulling back as rising homeownership costs, economic uncertainty and slowing price growth in some areas threaten to reduce profits.May 28, 2026
- Housing market won’t be affordable for at least 7 years: ReportShifts in household incomes, home prices and mortgage rates will be key to housing affordability improvements in the next decade, according to Oxford Economics.May 27, 2026
- ‘Still work to be done’ as housing bill clears another hurdleThe ROAD to Housing Act heads back to the Senate. Plus, Trump urges new Fed chair to “be totally independent”; HUD releases home construction best practices.May 22, 2026
- Rates up, sales down as ‘housing market tug of war’ continuesPending sales and purchase applications fell this week as average mortgage rates topped 6.5%, narrowing “the pool of buyers who can make the numbers work.”May 21, 2026
- Housing market still out of alignment despite affordability gainsA new Listing-Income Alignment Score finds “a shortage of options” for buyers looking to purchase a home they can afford, according to NAR and Realtor.com.May 20, 2026
- Mortgage rates jump as inflation reality sets inWith 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
- Sellers lose over $2K on typical dual agency transaction: StudyA new Zillow analysis found that homesellers collectively lost nearly $1.5B on dual agency transactions in three years — and over $1.3B on off-MLS listings.May 14, 2026
- 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
- 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
