Buying a Home — news for homeowners
Discover the big ticket items to check before buying a house so you can avoid costly surprises and negotiate a fair deal.
Right now: The New Mortgage Math · Aug 26
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If you've been holding out for a sudden drop in borrowing costs, you can probably exhale. Here's how buyers are handling the new math.
A Push to End the Home-Sale Tax Penalty While Lenders Brace for a Bumpy Fall
Congress is trying to thaw the housing market's deep freeze by doubling capital gains tax exclusions, just as the mortgage industry prepares for a slowdown.
The Housing Market Is Frozen, Except Where It's Not
National home sales hit a wall when mortgage rates spiked. But beneath that quiet surface, cooling boomtowns and rising affordable cities are trading places.
Sun Belt Reality Check: The Hidden Costs of Moving South
Retirees flock to South Carolina for the cheap taxes, but hidden local fees and strict new condo rules complicate the Sun Belt dream.
Why the $799 Mortgage Is a Myth, and Rates Are Stuck in Neutral
Mortgage markets are caught between a cooling job market and stubborn inflation. Meanwhile, a new lawsuit shows exactly why you have to read the fine print.
The Condo Hurdle: Why Buying Your First Place Just Got Harder
A massive federal rewrite of condo lending rules and mortgage rates stuck near multi-year highs are making life tough for entry-level buyers.
The Fine Print Strikes Back
The era of the easy condo mortgage is ending, while local governments get creative to keep property tax bills from eating us alive.
The One-Year Peak: Why Cash Buyers Are Taking Over
Mortgage rates just hit their highest level in a year, ending the summer waiting game and handing the keys to all-cash buyers.
The Builder’s Edge: Why New Construction is Defying the Rate Spike
Mortgage rates just hit a yearly high, but builders are offering massive discounts and rate buydowns regular sellers simply can't match.
The 7% Shadow
Mortgage rates are creeping back toward yearly highs, leaving buyers squeezed and sellers stubbornly clinging to their pandemic-era bargains. Here's what that means for your next move.
The Summer Squeeze: How to Buy When the Market Won't Budge
With prices hitting record highs and rates stuck in the mud, waiting for the housing market to cool off isn't working. Here's how to manufacture your own affordability.
The Great Summer Standoff: High Rates and Quiet Open Houses
Mortgage rates are stuck in the mid-sixes and buyers are exhausted. Here's why the market is at a standstill, and where you can still find leverage.
Why the Housing Math is Finally Tipping Back to Buyers
National home prices just hit another record high. But rising wages and slightly lower mortgage rates are quietly handing power back to patient buyers.
The 5.4% Summer Slump
Summer is usually peak moving season, but climbing rates and global tension have buyers quietly deciding to stay put.
The 6.6% Standstill: Why Buyers Are Finally Walking Away
Mortgage rates are creeping up, pending sales are dropping, and homes are finally sitting on the market. Here's what this standoff means for your next move.
The Great Regional Divide: Boomtowns Cool Down While the Midwest Heats Up
High mortgage rates are finally slowing the national housing market, but the big-picture numbers hide a bizarre reality on the ground.
The New Housing Law vs. The Summer Slump
Washington just passed a massive law to fix the housing shortage. But right now, buyers are stuck sweating out record prices and stubborn mortgage rates.
Washington Finally Puts a Leash on Wall Street Homebuyers
A sweeping new federal housing law quietly took effect at midnight. The goal? Tipping the scales back toward regular buyers.