National News

New-home sales crush expectations in August, jump 20.5% from July on builder incentives 

The pace of new-home sales hit an annual rate of 800,000, its highest level since January 2022. 

Fannie Mae lowers mortgage-rate forecasts after Fed cut 

Fannie Mae also reduced its forecasts for home sales in 2025 and 2026. 

Compass to acquire Anywhere Real Estate for $1.6B 

The stock-swap deal will bring Anywhere’s brands, including Better Homes and Gardens, CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker and Sotheby’s International, under the Compass umbrella. 

NAR survey finds Realtors willing to pay for technology tools 

The annual survey finds most Realtors pay at least $50 a month for work technology, despite a majority feeling satisfied with the tech provided by their brokerages.

Rate launches mortgage industry’s first mobile app in Spanish

Rate has launched the first fully integrated Spanish-language mobile app from a U.S. mortgage lender. 

Fed cuts rates by quarter point, nods to further reductions 

The move was widely anticipated and is expected to be followed by additional cuts this year. 

mortgage applications
Mortgage applications jump almost 30% ahead of anticipated Fed rate cut 

The jump in mortgage activity was driven in large part by refinancings, which surged 58% in the week ended Sept. 12. 

August single-family construction falls to slowest pace since July 2024 

At the same time, completions of new single-family homes were on the rise last month, according to federal statistics. 

Realtor.com: Mid-October is best time to buy a home in 2025

Looking for the best time to buy in 2025? It’s the week of Oct. 12–18, says Realtor.com. 

Home price appreciation increases 2.4% in August as Midwest leads growth

So far in 2025, home prices have grown at about half the pace of 2024.

mortgage applications
MBA: Mortgage applications hit highest level since 2022 

The surge comes as the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to its lowest level since October 2024. 

Cotality notes further movement toward buyer’s market in latest Home Price Insights report 

The rate of home-price appreciation slowed to just over half the rate of inflation in July, Cotality noted. 

MBA: 30-year mortgage rate falls to lowest level since April 

Despite the decrease in borrowing costs, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Market Composite Index showed a decrease in mortgage applications in the week ended Aug. 29. 

Southern and Western markets lead as new-home affordability grows

Despite a slowdown in single-family construction activity, newly built homes are becoming increasingly accessible to American buyers, in terms of both availability and affordability. According to data from the New-Construction Insights report released by Realtor.com, in the second quarter

Pending-home sales soften in July on economic anxiety 

Signed contracts declined despite lower interest rates and improved affordability and inventory, the National Association of REALTORS® said.   

Case-Shiller: Denver home-price growth slips in June, as national market undergoes ‘decisive shift’  

The pace of home-price appreciation declined to its slowest pace in two years, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. 

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