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Lew Sichelman

Staff Writer

Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing and mortgage sectors for 52 years. His syndicated column appears in major newspapers throughout the country.

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Redfin Reports More Sellers Having A Change Of Heart

The number of home listings that were pulled off the market rose to a historically high level in September, with many homeowners opting to stay put rather than accept a low offer.

Younger Homebuyers Entering The Market

After a slower start, younger generations are rapidly catching up in homeownership, fueled by rising incomes, career stability, and family formation, with millennials now buying homes in their 30s at rates comparable to Gen X in their early 40s

Refi Rejections A ‘Serious Warning’

Michael Haltman of Hallmark Abstract Service examines some of the reasons why nearly half of all refi apps are being rejected

Nov 24, 2025
Luxury Home Sales Outpacing The Market

Luxury home sales increased 2.9% year-over-year, while non-luxury sales rose 0.7%, as luxury inventory climbed 6.4% year-over-year, compared to a 9.5% increase in non-luxury inventory, posting their highest October levels in at least five years

Homebuyers Show Moderate Satisfaction With Recent Purchases

Post-purchase remorse declines from 2023, as today's buyers approach the market more deliberately, while the share who feel they overpaid for their home falls from 15% to 8% over the past two years

Nov 21, 2025
Rural Housing Markets Feeling The Squeeze

Rural homebuyers need to earn at least $75,000 to afford the typical home, up from $36,000 before the pandemic, with the median home sale price in rural areas up 61% from before the pandemic

Realty Firms Maintaining A Positive Outlook

Despite housing affordability, industry costs, and local economic conditions, real estate firms project their profitability to increase

Sellers Outnumbering Buyers By 37%

The number of U.S. homebuyers dropped 1.7% to the lowest level on record, aside from the start of the pandemic, amid high housing costs and economic uncertainty, while the number of sellers dropped 0.5% as sellers retreated in response to low buyer demand

Studies Show A ‘Flat’ Market

Home sales and new listings were little changed month-over-month, as Americans continue to grapple with high costs and economic uncertainty

U.S. Homes Are Losing Value

New research from Zillow shows that 53% of all U.S. homes have lost value since last year — the highest share since 2012, the tail end of home value declines after the Great Recession