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Expert Panel: Expect a Buyers Market by 2023

Sky-high mortgage costs are driving down competition among home shoppers, and a market firmly in favor of buyers is expected next year, according to a majority of economists and housing experts polled in the latest Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey (ZHPE). The expert, independent panel also expects rent growth to outpace inflation during the next 12 months, as priced-out potential home buyers exert additional pressure on the rental market. 

Mortgage Rates Move Higher, Have Doubled This Year

Markets reacted to the Federal Reserve increasing the target Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points last week and increasing their projections of future rate levels in 2023. Fed Chair Powell’s comments last week noted a need for restrictive monetary policy in the future with a focus on containing inflation, driving investors to raise their expectations for future interest rates.

Mortgage Rates Move Up on CPI Data Release

While interest rates continue to be volatile as markets adjust expectations for Fed rate hikes, mortgage rates ended the week basically unchanged at about 6% for a 30-year fixed rate loan. Economic data and comments from Fed officials last week point to the Federal Reserve continuing to raise the Fed Funds rate until inflation is under control.

The Fed Watch: The Impact of Uncertainty

Housing affordability in the U.S. is the worst it’s been in decades after mortgage rates shot up following two years of low-rate-plus-pandemic-fueled price growth. But that’s not the only thing making it hard for buyers to move forward. Mortgage rate volatility, the result of uncertainty introduced by the sea change in Federal Reserve policy early in the year, also plays a big part.