Mortgage rates are at yearly highs, but housing demand is still positive
Pending sales rose to 78,006 and purchase apps rose 7% yearly, even as mortgage rates hit highs and yields neared 4.60%.
Housing Inventory
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Inventory growth making housing more affordable
With inventory at multiyear highs, NAR prices are up 0.9% year over year versus 3.6% wage growth, easing affordability pressure.
Positive housing demand leads to inventory almost going negative YOY
Pending sales rose to 79,220 vs 74,212 last year as rates dipped to 6.42% and inventory growth slowed to 1.49% year over year.
Mortgage spreads are the only thing keeping rates under 7%
If mortgage spreads were at the highest levels from 2023-2025 with the 10-year yield at this level, mortgage rates would be over 7%.
Housing demand shockingly positive even as the Iran war continues
Housing demand rebounded last week even though the war with Iran continues and mortgage rates are higher today than before the war started.
Weekly pending home sales show yearly growth as mortgage rates fall
Inventory rose to 743,006, new listings hit 77,919 and pending sales rose to 73,241 as rates neared 6.25%.
Kentucky housing reform bill collapses in final hours
Kentucky’s failure shows how difficult housing politics remain even as other states manage to pass modest reforms.
Why is housing inventory growth slowing down in 2026?
Inventory is up from record lows, but new listings remain below normal, keeping 2026 growth rates below last year’s peak.
Is housing inventory about to turn negative year over year?
U.S. inventory growth slowed to 3.21% year over year as rates neared 6.64%, with new listings down 7.9% from 2025.
How is the housing market weathering war-time economics?
War-time economics have sent gas prices skyrocketing and pushed mortgage rates higher over the last five weeks, from a low of 5.99% to a high of 6.64%.