Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing and mortgage sectors for 52 years. His syndicated column appears in major newspapers throughout the country.
ProPublica reports that Donald Trump claimed two Florida homes as his primary residence on separate mortgages despite never living in them, a practice experts say meets the standard for mortgage fraud set by his own administration
A new survey from RE/MAX finds that 88% of prospective buyers say they are “very” or “somewhat” likely to purchase a home in 2026, although 71% say current market conditions have pushed their plans back
A closer look at the first-time homebuyer market, a segment that plays a crucial role in today’s housing market, making it essential for analysts and policymakers to understand their profiles, preferences, and affordability challenges
Rising student loan delinquencies — now back to pre-pandemic levels with six million borrowers past due — are dragging down credit scores and making it harder for many people to qualify for mortgages, tightening affordability and access to homeownership
Starter-home sales rose 4.9% year-over-year in October, increasing for the 14th consecutive month, with San Francisco recording the biggest jump in starter-home sales
A more even housing market is projected to emerge as steadier prices, easing rates, and rising incomes improve affordability and will provide buyers with more negotiating power
Redfin predicts that 2026 will usher in a “Great Housing Reset” — a gradual rebound in the U.S. housing market, driven by rising incomes outpacing home-price growth, more affordable mortgage rates, modest price increases, and slowly improving homebuying
Freddie Mac reports that mortgage production costs remain high despite modest quarterly improvement, with lenders seeing higher per-loan income but relying on Loan Product Advisor tools to offset rising expenses
The Government Accountability Office is urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency to issue clear, written guidance on how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should meet fair lending requirements amid shifting oversight and increasing use of property technology
The FHFA has announced the conforming loan limit (CLL) values for mortgages Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will acquire in 2026, as in most of the U.S., the 2026 CLL value for one-unit properties will be $832,750