Weekly Housing Headlines

Refinance activity went up 16% this week, while purchase applications rose and rates declined for the sixth consecutive week; mortgage credit availability increased for the third consecutive month; new home purchase activity, in line with seasonal patterns, strengthened in February; and home prices and time on the market is near year ago levels, while overall inventory continues to climb.

Mortgage Applications Up As Rates Decline For Sixth Consecutive Week
Mortgage Professional America - 3/12/2025
Refinance activity jumps 16% while purchase applications rise, signaling momentum in the housing market.

Mortgage Credit Availability Increased in February
Mortgage Bankers Association - 3/11/2025
Mortgage credit availability in February increased for the third consecutive month to its highest level since March 2023.

February New Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Decreased 6.9 Percent
Mortgage Bankers Association - 3/13/2025
New home purchase activity strengthened in February, in line with seasonal patterns, as higher housing inventory and declining rates supported growth.

Weekly Housing Trends View — Data for Week Ending March 8, 2025
Realtor.com - 3/13/2025
Home prices and time on the market is near year ago levels, and overall inventory continues to climb. Prices are also the closest they have been to year-ago levels since November, narrowing the gap for the third week in a row.

Gen Z Poised To Buy Homes, But High Costs Test Limits
National Mortgage Professional - 3/11/2025
According to a new report from ServiceLink, 67% of Gen Z respondents plan to purchase a home in 2025, compared to 51% of millennials, 49% of Gen X and 22% of baby boomers.

Refinancing makes a comeback as mortgage lock volume rises in February
Scotsman Guide - 3/11/2025
Refinancing gained momentum in February as month-over-month mortgage lock volume increased by 7%, according to a report from Optimal Blue.

It Will Take 7 Years To Fix the Housing Shortage at Current Construction Pace, Economists Say
Realtor.com - 3/10/2025
Although the supply gap improved moderately in 2024, the country still fell 3.8 million units short of meeting demand relative to new household formations and pent-up demand, according to a report from Realtor.com.

How Rising Costs Affect Home Affordability
Eye On Housing - 3/10/2025
Housing affordability remains a critical issue, with 74.9% of U.S. households unable to afford a median-priced new home in 2025, according to NAHB’s latest analysis.

Consumer Housing Sentiment Declines For First Time Since 2023
National Mortgage Professional - 3/7/2025
For the first time in nearly two years, consumer housing sentiment year-over-year has taken a downward turn. Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index dropped by 1.8 points in February, now sitting at 71.6.

The Typical U.S. Homeowner Stays Put For 11.8 Years. In Parts of California, It’s Closer to 20 Years.
Redfin - 3/12/2025
Redfin reports that the typical Los Angeles homeowner hangs onto their house for 19.4 years — longer than any U.S. metro, and the longest span on record for that area.