As the spring homebuying season ended, U.S. home price growth softened significantly, opening the door to improved affordability.

Home-purchase activity remained elevated from 2024, but a cloudy economic outlook has deterred some would-be homebuyers. 

After years of fast-paced home sales, tight inventory and relentless price growth, the U.S. housing market may finally be entering a new chapter.

The law helps delinquent VA borrowers and allows them to pay buyer-agent commissions when house shopping. 

Geographically, the only region to post a monthly increase in pending sales was the Northeast, where they rose 2.1%, according to NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index.

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

Real estate economist Matthew Gardner joins Agent Publishing Co-Publisher Anne Hartnett to unpack the biggest housing trends from the second quarter, plus the potential impact of a new Fed chair and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The inventory of new homes for sale surged year over year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.    

At the same time, the pace of existing-home sales declined from May’s level. 

New single-family home construction declined as builders continue to grapple with macroeconomic headwinds. 

Purchase applications slowed to their lowest level since May as economic worries dampened activity, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. 

Zillow has rolled out five new features this summer to make searching for homes easier and more efficient.

The National Association of REALTORS® debuted its Market Statistics Dashboard for members, which provides local housing data intended to help clients buy and sell homes.  

The FICO alternative is expected to greatly expand the number of eligible borrowers by allowing rent and utility payments to count toward a credit score. 

Purchase applications hit their highest level since February 2023. 

The National Association of REALTORS® has claimed that the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in the House delivers significant victories for homeowners and real estate professionals.