Trends

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Zillow: Buyers want exposed beams and arched doorways

Among over 600 home features and design aspects, exposed beams were the most popular — home listings featuring the element saw 19.7% more engagement on Zillow.com.

Boomers still buying the most US homes as first-time buyers fall to all-time low

Boomers made up 42% of all homebuyers during the period from July 2024 to June 2025, unchanged from the same time a year prior. Millennials lost market share, making up 26% of buyers, down 3% year over year.

Average monthly mortgage payments top $2K for first time

The average monthly payment on an outstanding home loan reached $2,005 in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Realtor.com’s latest data based on FHFA figures.

Empty-nesters own more than a third of three-bedroom homes in US

Redfin noted that millennials are currently the largest generation, making the rate of boomer homeownership even more outsized in comparison.

Case-Shiller: Denver home-price growth slows in January

S&P Dow Jones Indices noted that inflation outpaced national home-price appreciation for the eighth month in a row. 

Trends: How new construction will adapt to address the housing supply shortage

The 2026 National Housing Supply Summit was held in Washington, D.C., on March 18.

Pending home sales rise in February, portending a strong spring selling season

Regionally, pending sales rose in the Midwest, South and West, and declined in the Northeast on a month-over-month basis.

Report: Gen Z adults lead among 2026 movers

Many Americans are planning a move this year, driven by lifestyle changes, family needs and homeownership goals, according to the 2026 State of Moving Forecast Survey by American Home Shield. 

Amount buyers need to afford typical home falls for 2nd month in a row after 5 years of increases

After five years of worsening, housing affordability has finally started to improve, according to a new Redfin study. 

Pending home sales slip slightly in January despite improved affordability

With mortgage rates approaching 6%, 5.5 million additional buyers that could not qualify for a mortgage one year ago would qualify at today’s lower rates, the National Association of REALTORS® said. 

What home buyers want in 2026

As the housing market continues to adjust, design and community strategy have become drivers of buyer preference, according to Jenni Nichols, vice president of design at John Burns Research and Consulting.

Super Bowl LX: The ‘Big Game’ could mean big home-value boosts for Boston and Seattle

Zillow’s Home Value Index shows that in 13 of the past 20 years, home values in the metro area of the Super Bowl champion grew faster than the national average.

2026 opens with a dip in builder confidence, interest rates

Affordability challenges continue to bedevil homebuyers, despite mortgage rates falling to a three-year low, the National Association of Home Builders reported. 

Report: Immigrants drive housing production in top US homebuilding metros

Research showed a disproportionately high share of foreign-born workers active in the construction trades nationally in 2024.

Existing-home sales end 2025 at highest pace in almost 3 years

Sales of existing homes jumped 5.1% month over month, topping analyst expectations. 

NAR: Pending home sales post best performance since February 2023

Contract signings were up in all four U.S. regions. 

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