For the past several years, the U.S. housing market has faced an unusual constraint: not a lack of buyers, but a lack of sellers willing — or able — to move.\nMillions of homeowners remain “rate-locked,” holding mortgages originated in 2020–2022 at interest rates between 2{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} and 4{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} (Federal Housing Finance Agency; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey). While home values have risen, the financial penalty of selling and repurchasing at today’s 6{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a}–7{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} rates has discouraged mobility, suppressing inventory and transaction volume nationwide (National Association of Realtors; HousingWire).
The cost of home insurance in the United States rose by ~89{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} between 2014 and 2025, as rapidly climbing home prices, more frequent extreme weather events and inflation impacted insurers and homeowners. ICE analysts share key insights from their recent 10-year study into the forces propelling rising insurance costs across the nation.
U.S. housing inventory growth slowed to 9.99{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} year-over-year last week as mortgage rates near 6{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} and price cuts reach 34.7{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a}.
December jobs growth slowed to 50,000, keeping mortgage rates near 6{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} with steady and Trump’s MBS move supporting better spreads.
Compass closed its acquisition of Anywhere Friday, with the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reporting that DOJ leaders blocked a deeper antitrust review.
A modest mortgage rate drop may boost refinancing by 15{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} to 25{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a}, but lenders caution that activity depends on rates staying low.
Housing starts fell 7.8{26f010923df5620b715103baf179d06cd3382e8a6904bc84385bc9982dcc352a} year-over-year in October, led by steep declines in the Sunbelt and Mountain West regions.