Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing and mortgage sectors for 52 years. His syndicated column appears in major newspapers throughout the country.
A historic $2.4 trillion inheritance wave is set to reshape the luxury housing market, with Gen X and millennials driving demand toward resilient cities, lifestyle-focused homes, and real estate as a core wealth strategy
Pending home sales in December 2025 dropped to their second-lowest level on record as buyers pulled back amid high costs and economic uncertainty, while home prices remained elevated and listings declined
First American reports affordability is improving to its best level in more than three years, helping thaw the housing market, though high rates and lingering lock-in effects continue to temper a full recovery
Townhouse construction reached a record share of single-family starts in the third quarter, reflecting growing demand for more affordable, medium-density housing options
A new survey finds student debt can take a decade or more to repay, delaying homeownership, retirement savings, and other life milestones for many graduates — despite most still valuing their degrees
January is the cheapest month to buy a home — saving buyers up to $23,000 compared to May, the priciest month of the year, according to a new LendingTree analysis
Housing experts argue that a targeted capital gains tax exemption for seniors could unlock millions of long-held homes, easing supply constraints, and improving affordability
Florida posted the nation’s priciest home sale in 2025 while also leading all states in average home value declines, underscoring a sharp split between ultra-luxury and the broader housing market
An empirical investigation finds that borrowers using Zillow Home Loans pay statistically higher mortgage costs compared with similar borrowers at other lenders, resulting in significant lifetime cost “overcharges” on 30-year loans
In November, home sellers outnumbered buyers by an unprecedented margin — about 37.2% — creating a pronounced buyer’s market with more negotiating power for purchasers and the largest imbalance recorded since at least 2013