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What happened to mortgage rates this week? The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose for the seventh consecutive week, up 12 basis points to 7.40%. Rates are now a full 110 basis points higher than they were last year at this time, which was 6.30%. This increase comes amid continued upward pressure from the 10-yearRead …

Mortgage Rates Jump For Seventh Straight Week to 7.40%; Highest Rate in 35 Months Read More »

Welcome to this weekly housing trends update, where we bring you the latest snapshot of inventory trends, listing activity, and buyer-seller dynamics across the U.S. housing market. In addition to our monthly housing trends reports, which offer deeper insights into long-term patterns, we publish these weekly updates to provide more timely views into market changes.Read …

Weekly Housing Trends: U.S. Market Update (Week Ending Oct. 3, 2026) Read More »

America’s Favorite Countertop Could Be on Its Way Out. What Could Replace Quartz? America’s most popular countertop is now at the center of a deadly worker health crisis, as the people who cut and shape engineered quartz develop severe lung disease at an alarming—and rapidly accelerating—pace. Homeowners who already have quartz countertops are not believedRead …

What Could Replace Quartz Countertops Amid the Silicosis Crisis? Read More »

Key Takeaways: – The national starter home share fell from 38.1% of active inventory in August 2019 to 36.2% in August 2026, even as starter home prices rose 30.8%, from roughly $260,000 to $340,000. – Metro trends point to distinct regional patterns: – Southeast and Sunbelt metros have seen the steepest starter-home losses, led byRead …

These Metros Still Have a High Concentration of Starter Homes Read More »

Mortgage Rates Hit New 3-Year High as Fed Official Says More Hikes Are Needed Mortgage rates climbed to a fresh three-year peak this week, propelled upward by a toxic blend of inflation fears, a global bond selloff, and rising concerns about government deficits. The average rate on 30-year fixed home loans reached 7.40% for theRead …

Mortgage Rates Hit New 3-Year High as Fed Official Says More Hikes Are Needed Read More »

HGTV’s Jonathan Knight Spent Big on a Custom Luxury Kitchen—Even Though He Admits He Doesn’t Cook When New Kids on the Block member and HGTV star Jonathan Knight isn’t on the road touring or filming home renovations in cities across the country, the Boston native heads to the neighborhood block that truly makes his heartRead …

HGTV’s Jonathan Knight Spent Big on a Custom Luxury Kitchen Read More »

Wells Fargo Faces HUD Probe Over Efforts To Boost Black Homeownership The Department of Housing and Urban Development is probing Wells Fargo to determine whether its efforts to boost Black homeownership violate fair-housing laws. HUD sent a letter to Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf stating that it would examine whether the mortgage giant violated fair-lendingRead …

Wells Fargo Faces HUD Probe Over Efforts To Boost Black Homeownership Read More »

Indianapolis’ Citywide Push to Drop Parking Minimums Is on Hold A citywide push to let developers build homes and apartments in Indianapolis without providing any parking spaces has stalled—at least for now. The Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee voted 12–1 to postpone Proposal No. 237, 2026, pushing reconsideration to November 9. The resolution, sponsored byRead …

Indianapolis’ Citywide Push to Drop Parking Minimums Is on Hold Read More »

Houston’s Historic Commission to Discuss Rules on Exterior Home Changes in Norhill If you own a home in Norhill and have been thinking about updating your windows, adding a garage, or changing anything on the outside of your house, a meeting this Thursday could shape what’s allowed going forward. Houston’s Archaeological and Historical Commission isRead …

Historic Commission to Discuss Exterior Home Rules in Houston Neighborhood Read More »

Portland Builders Have Until March 31 to File Permits Under Old Residential Codes Portland contractors and homeowners planning a residential project have a limited window to submit permit applications under the 2023 building code rules before a new standard takes over. Oregon’s Building Codes Division officially adopted the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) onRead …

Portland Builders Must File Permits Before March 31 Ahead of Code Changes Read More »