Analysis and Data

Non-QM’s expansion reflects borrower reality, investor demand, and strict limits on how far risk can stretch.

Freddie Mac’s December 2025 volume summary shows continued growth in its mortgage and investment portfolios, with credit performance remaining largely stable as the year ended

Growing HOA costs are becoming a bigger share of monthly housing expenses, especially in Florida, according to new data

Pending home sales are falling apart at a record pace, with more than 16% of December contracts canceled as higher costs and increased inventory give buyers greater leverage to walk away before closing

Downpayment assistance is expanding and loosening eligibility nationwide, with more programs, higher income caps, broader property support, and deeper benefits that improve borrower qualification and loan quality

Washington, D.C. reclaimed the top spot in RentCafe’s 2025 Most Livable Metro Areas ranking, edging out Portland, Maine, as Midwestern cities dominated the broader top 20 on affordability and quality-of-life measures

Falling mortgage rates are driving a surge in buyer interest and mortgage applications, even as home sales remain slow and buyers gain negotiating power amid rising inventory, according to Redfin

For the first time, mortgages with rates above 6% now outnumber sub-3% loans, signaling a gradual reset of the pandemic-era lock-in market

Redfin data shows sellers now outnumber buyers by a record 47%, pushing the U.S. housing market deeper into buyer-friendly territory as demand sinks to historic lows

MBA data shows new-home mortgage applications rose 2.5% year-over-year in December, signaling resilient demand despite a seasonal slowdown and broader housing headwinds