NEWSROOM

Mortgage Professional

​

Homebuyers in the U.S. skewed slightly younger in 2025 as mortgage rates eased and affordability improved modestly. New data from Redfin show the median age of first-time buyers fell to 35, down from 36 in 2024 and below a recent peak of 38 in 2018.

CNBC

​

After falling below 6%, matching their lowest level in several years, mortgage rates reversed course Monday, hitting their highest point in two weeks. The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed loan rose 13 basis points to 6.12%.

NAR REALTOR® News Now

​

Hundreds of tax-defaulted properties across San Diego County will be up for auction next month. The County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office said 686 parcels will be offered during the annual online sale, scheduled for March 13 through March 18. Prospective buyers must complete the online registration process by March 3.

NAR REALTOR® News Now

​

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.98% last week—its lowest point in three-and-a-half years. The drop could potentially unlock millions of new buyers who had been sidelined by affordability constraints when rates hovered around 7% just over a year ago.

Realtor.com

​

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the City of Huntington Beach that sought to escape California housing laws, leaving in place a lower-court ruling that Huntington Beach must abide by Gov. Gavin Newsom's requirement that it adopt a housing element that could include higher-density housing development.

NAR REALTOR® News Now

​

Three veteran home buyers filed a class action lawsuit against Veterans United Home Loans Wednesday, claiming the company illegally steered veterans to pricier mortgages and falsely insinuated an affiliation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

NPR News

​

For would-be buyers who missed the golden window of mortgage rates below 3% may be able to with an assumable mortgage. This kind of transfer lets the homebuyer take over the seller's mortgage, and with it, their old — much lower — mortgage rate. 

Yahoo Finance

​

In January, 11 California counties recorded median home prices of $1 million or more: Alameda, Marin, Mono, Napa, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. That’s two more than a year ago, when Mono County and Napa County were below the million-dollar mark.

National Assn. of REALTORS®

​

NAR research shows about 5.5 million more households can now qualify for a mortgage compared to a year ago due to lower rates. So, what’s holding buyers back?

CALIFORNIA ASSN. OF REALTORS®

​

California home sales retreated in January to their lowest level since May 2025 as home prices fell to a 23-month low.

CNBC

​

For homeowners who sell their house later in life, that timing may come with a cost, new research suggests. Once sellers reach about age 70, they start getting lower sale prices for their houses compared with younger homeowners, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Yahoo Finance

​

C.A.R. debuted its first-ever advertisement in the Official Super Bowl Program as part of its ongoing Homeownership Matters campaign — a statewide public education and advocacy campaign to make homeownership a critical priority of California's 2026 legislative housing agenda.

NBC 7

​

Housing affordability slightly improved in California in the fourth quarter of 2025, as moderating prices and cooling market competition lowered borrowing costs and allowed more Californians to qualify for mortgages, the California Association of Realtors said this week.

National Mortgage Professional

​

After years of climbing to record territory, U.S. homeowner equity eased modestly in Q4 of 2025, according to ATTOM’s latest Home Equity & Underwater Report.

Realtor.com

​

Starter homes are a vanishing product type, but the trends might be shifting. A Realtor.com analysis of nationwide building permit data showed that the size of a median new build shrunk from 2,128 square feet in 2022 to 1,965 square feet in 2024. 

CNBC

​

The share of U.S. homeowners with high rates on their mortgages has jumped sharply in just the last few years.

Realtor.com

​

Mortgage applications decreased 8.9% for the week ending Jan. 30, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. This is the second week in a row the demand for home loans has declined.

Realtor.com

​

Less than 1 in 5 voters think now is a good time to buy a new home, setting the stage for housing to be a major issue in this year's election cycle, a new poll shows.

ABC News

​

U.S. consumer confidence declined sharply in January, hitting the lowest level since 2014 as Americans grow increasingly concerned about their financial prospects.

Yahoo Finance

​

As Americans struggle with high home prices and mortgage rates, an affordable housing option may be hiding in plain sight. In some areas of the country, new home builders have ample inventory, are motivated to negotiate price, and might offer lower mortgage rates.

KMPH TV

​

The two largest home insurance companies in California are raising rates and expanding coverage in fire zones. Mercury and AAA’s company, called CSAA, are increasing rates, but these rates are largely determined by the area code of the home.

Homes.com

​

KB Home unveiled its Stone Canyon neighborhood in Cameron Park — near Sacramento. Each home will be built using fire-resistant materials and construction techniques "designed to protect against direct fire-resistant materials and construction methods designed to protect against direct flame contact.

Homes.com

​

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index found homebuilder sentiment of new home sales dropped deeper into negative territory with a reading of 37, down two points from December.

Housing Wire

​

The Trump is exploring alternative approaches to improve housing affordability, including allowing Americans to tap retirement or college savings for down payments. 

Realtor.com

​

The demand for home loans continues into another week, as mortgage applications increased 14.1% for the week ending Jan. 16, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

San Francisco Chronicle

​

Two of California’s largest home insurers will each raise rates for customers by an average of 6.9% later this year, according to filings with the California Department of Insurance. 

Sacramento Bee

​

As the housing market moves into 2026 and the market begins to stabilize, challenges remain for buyers and sellers. According to the California Association of Realtors, both home sales and the median price are projected to inch upward.

Homes.com

​

When buying a condo, it's important to find an agent who specializes in those types of properties. You'll need someone with a certificate in condo sales and expertise in homeowner associations, building reserves and how special assessments work, among other issues.

CNBC

​

The rate on a 30-year mortgage dropped 22 basis points to 5.99%, matching the low from Feb. 2, 2023, according to Mortgage News Daily.

CALIFORNIA ASSN. OF REALTORS®

​

C.A.R. applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom for recognizing that housing costs are a major driver of California’s affordability crisis and cautions that certain kinds of policies risk making it harder for the state’s families to find a place to live.

Newsweek

​

Among the top ten U.S. metropolitan areas where home prices are expected to fall the fastest in 2026, three are in California, according to an analysis by Realtor.com.

CALIFORNIA ASSN. OF REALTORS®

​

C.A.R. has announced the launch of Homeownership Matters, a statewide public education and advocacy campaign to make homeownership a critical priority of California’s 2026 housing agenda.

AARP

​

The ongoing struggle of Californians to secure a slice of the American Dream is motivating AARP California to focus on housing as a top priority in the state legislature this year.

CNBC

​

Eighty-three percent of commercial real estate leaders said they expect their revenues to improve by the end of 2026 compared with 88% last year, according to a Deloitte survey of 850 global chief executives.

CNBC

​

Mortgage rates are lower, home prices are easing and there is more supply on the market for sale, which all adds up to improved affordability for today’s homebuyers. However, saving for a down payment is still the biggest hurdle for first-time buyers.

Realtor.com

​

​After decades of young professionals flocking to large metros in search of well-paying jobs and lifestyle amenities, the American heartland is seeing a resurgence, with rural counties posting massive home price increases far outpacing those in urban centers.

CBS News

​

Both 30-year and 15-year mortgage loan rates are hovering in territory that seemed out of reach just months ago. Here's what you should know about today's mortgage interest rates.

Realtor.com

​

A new bill aimed at tackling the housing affordability crisis has advanced out of committee in the U.S. House, renewing hopes that the federal government will take action to address soaring costs.

CALIFORNIA ASSN. OF REALTORS®

​

California home sales rose in November from both the previous month and year for the third consecutive month to reach the highest level since September 2022.

Mansion Global

​

From coastal sunshine to mountain snowfall, these days, a region’s climate often drives decisions about where to live and house hunt.