Nearly Two-Thirds of REALTORS® Volunteer Monthly, New NAR Report Finds
August 27 2026 | |
“REALTORS® and their associations serve as pillars of their communities through their time, dollars and dedication,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “Charitable giving and volunteering are a defining feature of who REALTORS® are, and they consistently make time to invest in the people and places around them.”
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ALTA and AARP Applaud Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for Action Against MV Realty
August 26 2026 | |
“Homeowners should have the freedom to make decisions about their property without long-term agreements creating barriers to a future sale, refinance or transfer,” said Caroline Cone, director of state government affairs, ALTA. “We appreciate Attorney General Mayes for taking action on behalf of Arizona homeowners and their property rights. A home is often a family’s most important asset, and preserving clear title and a homeowner’s ability to freely transfer their property is fundamental to homeownership.”
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Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
August 26 2026 | |
“Mortgage rates reached their highest level in three weeks, with the 30-year fixed rate up slightly to 6.78 percent. Mortgage rates have increased around 20 basis points over the past two months, which has dampened refinancing activity,” said Joel Kan, CMB, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Refinance applications decreased, particularly for FHA and VA loans, and the average loan size for refinances was at its lowest since June 2025.”
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Economic Uncertainty, Affordability Challenges Weigh on New Home Sales
August 25 2026 | |
“The single-family home building market is on track for a second consecutive annual decline in 2026,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “New home sales are down more than 4% on a year-to-date basis. NAHB research and economic data show community builders continue to outperform the broader market, while the Northeast remains a relative bright spot, with new home sales up nearly 9% year-to-date.”
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MISMO Launches Two New AI Governance Certifications at Fall Summit
August 25 2026 | |
“AI is moving quickly into mortgage workflows, and organizations need practical ways to understand and manage the risks that come with it,” said MISMO President Brian Vieaux, CMB. “These certifications give the industry another way to build confidence in responsible AI adoption by recognizing organizations that can help lenders put good governance practices into action and technology providers that can demonstrate how their AI-enabled products are governed.”
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Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
August 23 2026 | |
“Mortgage rates and applications changed little last week, with just a slight increase in refinances for conventional and VA loans, while FHA refinances were lower,” said Joel Kan, CMB, MBA’s VP and Deputy Chief Economist. “Borrowers with larger loan sizes remain less likely to refinance with rates at these higher levels."
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Housing Affordability Worsens on Higher Mortgage Rates
August 20 2026 | |
“Housing affordability weakened for both new and existing homes in the second quarter, driven by several factors,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Buyers faced high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, while builders dealt with rising construction costs, unnecessary regulatory burdens and labor shortages."
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Housing Starts Retreat on Market Headwinds
August 18 2026 | |
“Builders continue to face significant challenges from elevated construction costs and affordability pressures,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Higher mortgage rates are keeping many prospective buyers on the sidelines, while rising material, gas and diesel costs are adding to the cost of construction.
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NAR Launches Commercial Real Estate Demand Index
August 18 2026 | |
“Commercial real estate demand begins with what's happening in the local economy,” said Nadia Evangelou, Principal Economist & Director of Real Estate Research at NAR. “Demand starts before a lease is signed. It starts with jobs and people. The CRE Demand Index helps identify those trends earlier, before they're reflected in traditional market indicators.”
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NAR Pending Home Sales Report Shows 2.3% Decrease in July
August 18 2026 | |
“The highest mortgage rates of the year hit right in the middle of summer, and that’s pulling back contract signings,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Home prices are at record highs so houses for sale are sitting on the market longer, and fewer buyers are bidding above the asking price than a year ago, though there are large local market variations.”
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Affordability Pressures Keep Builder Confidence Low
August 17 2026 | |
“Our latest builder survey continues to show signs of weakness in the home building market,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “August marked the 16th straight month that at least 30% of builders reported cutting prices to support demand, as well as the 16th consecutive month with the HMI below 40. Custom home builders continue to report stronger market conditions than spec builders, reflecting better conditions at the higher end of the market."
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Source of Title Founder Running for Probate Judge
August 16 2026 | |
Mansfield attorney Robert A. Franco has announced his candidacy for Judge of the Richland County, Ohio, Probate Court. Franco is a longtime Richland County resident and attorney whose practice has focused substantially on matters within the jurisdiction of the probate court. His experience includes estate administration, guardianships, trusts, estate planning, name changes, real estate titles, and disputes involving estates and property rights. Throughout his career, he has represented families, executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, property owners, farmers, and local businesses in matters carrying significant personal and financial consequences.
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Mortgage Delinquencies Decrease Slightly in the Second Quarter of 2026
August 13 2026 | |
“Mortgage delinquencies decreased slightly across all loan types in the second quarter of 2026. Nonetheless, the broader trend is that both delinquencies and foreclosures have increased over the past year,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis. “The mortgage delinquency rate rose 44 basis points and the foreclosure inventory rate increased by almost 20 basis points from last year’s second quarter.”
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NAR Meets with White House, DOL, and HHS Officials to Advance Health Coverage Options for Real Estate Professionals
August 12 2026 | |
“We support a rule that allows real estate professionals and other self-employed individuals to participate in high-quality, affordable health plans offered through trade associations,” said Shannon McGahn, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Association of REALTORS®. “The Affordable Care Act works well for many of our members, and we strongly support protections for people with pre-existing conditions. But for others, premiums, deductibles, and copays remain a barrier to coverage. AHPs can complement existing coverage options—not replace them—by providing another choice for self-employed professionals who remain uninsured because the cost of coverage is simply out of reach.”
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Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
August 12 2026 | |
“After five consecutive weeks of increases, mortgage rates declined slightly last week as oil prices dipped briefly on the hopes of a sustained resolution to the war in Iran. The 30-year fixed rate decreased four basis points but remained close to its highest level in a year at 6.77 percent,” said Joel Kan, CMB, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “The reprieve in rates supported an increase in both purchase and refinance applications over the week, although the pace of applications has fallen below last year’s pace in recent weeks."
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NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows 1.7% Decrease in July
August 11 2026 | |
“Home sales have been remarkably stable, even amid the rising mortgage rate environment of the past few months,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Year-to-date sales are up 2.4% and there’s no doubt that the housing market would be thriving if average mortgage rates were to return near 6%.”
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Three States Drive Over 20% of Remodeling Activity, NAHB Research Finds
August 10 2026 | |
“The latest SPR results reflect the most recent GDP report, which showed cyclical weakness in remodeling spending,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “According to the SPR, the number of states with negative growth rates on a four-quarter moving average rose from five in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 10 in the first quarter of 2026. Still, inflation-adjusted remodeling spending increased more than 10% from 2023 to 2025, supported by an aging housing stock and record-high home equity gains for existing home owners.”
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Multifamily Developer Confidence Weakens in Second Quarter
August 06 2026 | |
“It is clear that supply-side headwinds continue to weigh on multifamily developer sentiment,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz “In addition to relatively high interest rates and other financing issues, developers are finding it difficult to obtain approvals and utility connections in some parts of the country. High material prices and shortages of skilled labor also remain significant impediments.”
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Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
August 05 2026 | |
“In the wake of the July FOMC meeting, longer-term rates increased, with mortgage rates reaching their highest level in more than a year, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 6.81 percent,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s SVP and Chief Economist. “Application volume for both refinance and purchase loans declined for the week, and are now running behind last year’s pace, indicating that higher mortgage rates have weakened overall demand.”
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Hopdox Opens eRecording in Glades County, Florida, Advancing Mission to Bring eRecording to Every County Nationwide
August 04 2026 | |
“One of the reasons I founded Hopdox was because I believe every county should have access to the benefits of eRecording, regardless of size or location,” said Paul Clifford, founder of Hopdox. “Being the first live eRecording vendor in Glades County is incredibly meaningful because it demonstrates the trust counties are placing in Hopdox and our team. We are proud to help bring eRecording to Glades County for the first time and remain committed to expanding access to modern recording technology across the nation.
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Home Prices Increased in 80% of Metro Areas in Second Quarter of 2026
August 04 2026 | |
“Home sales increased despite mortgage rates rising. This testifies to the potential housing demand building up from steady job and income gains,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Sales rose in three of the four major regions, with the South leading the way due to faster job growth. The Northeast was the exception, held back partly by slower job growth and faster-appreciating home prices, which hurt affordability.”
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