Takeaway: Core CPI inflation came in at 2.6% year over year, much lower than consensus expectations of 3.0%. That’s the largest difference between expectations and reported CPI in recent memory. Rates will fall ever so slightly, but not nearly as much as they normally would given the seismic miss because

House hunters are retreating amid high housing costs and a seasonal slowdown, leading prospective sellers to pull back, too.  U.S. pending home sales fell 5.8% from a year earlier during the four weeks ending December 14, the biggest decline since the start of 2025. On a metro level, pending sales

AuthorKelsey Heath.  Date: December 17, 2025 4:17 pm Avoid foreclosure with 5 proven options, including loan modification, forbearance, short sales, and expert help to protect your credit. The post How to Avoid Foreclosure: 5 Options You Should Know appeared first on FastExpert.

The Midwest and South are home to a majority of the country’s most affordable cities.  A typical household in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO, a St. Louis suburb, would need to spend just 16% of their income on housing every month—the lowest share in the nation and less than half the national

The Midwest and South are home to a majority of the country’s most affordable cities.  A typical household in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO, a St. Louis suburb, would need to spend just 16% of their income on housing every month—the lowest share in the nation and less than half the national

AuthorKelsey Heath.  Date: December 16, 2025 2:21 pm Discover how to sell a home in a buyer’s market with effective, expert-backed strategies for pricing, prepping, and negotiating. The post How to Sell a Home in a Buyer’s Market appeared first on FastExpert.

AuthorKelsey Heath.  Date: December 16, 2025 12:02 pm Learn what happens if you walk away from your mortgage and how foreclosure, state laws, and debt rules affect your finances—plus options before defaulting. The post What Happens If You Walk Away From Your Mortgage? appeared first on FastExpert.

October and November jobs data came in cooler than expected, but the long government shutdown muddies the waters. The jobs report alone won’t push the Fed to make more interest-rate cuts than previously communicated.  Takeaway: Mortgage rates are likely to remain largely unchanged following the release of mixed October and

America’s ultra-wealthy homebuyers are hitting the slopes this ski season. Aspen, Colorado is home to nearly half of last month’s most expensive home sales.   A Silicon Valley villa located in Portola Valley was the most expensive home sale of November, fetching $56 million.  It’s followed by an Aspen estate that

This report outlines county-level flood-risk data and housing statistics for Washington State in light of this month’s devastating flooding. Our hearts go out to Washington residents during this challenging time. Torrential rainfall that began last week has caused many of Washington State’s rivers to overflow, flooding scores of homes and

This Week In A Nutshell    Mortgage rates are flat after the Fed cut rates last week, as expected, while also communicating that it’ll likely be the last cut for a while. Rates could fluctuate this week, with fresh jobs and inflation data for the first time since the government

AuthorKelsey Heath.  Date: December 15, 2025 11:38 am Buy a house sight unseen safely using virtual tours, expert agents, and smart tips. Perfect for investors, relocators, and remote buyers. The post How to Buy a House Sight Unseen appeared first on FastExpert.

As we head into the final weeks of the year, we’re excited to welcome the newest agents who joined Redfin in November. Their expertise and enthusiasm are already adding momentum as we move into the holiday season and prepare for the housing market reset expected in 2026.  Redfin agent Teresa

Would-be home sellers and buyers are retreating as we enter the holiday season, with both new listings and pending sales falling. New listings of U.S. homes for sale fell 1.7% year over year during the four weeks ending December 7, the biggest decline in over two years. Would-be home sellers

AuthorAmanda Dodge.  Date: December 10, 2025 4:27 pm Use this guide, Virtual Tours and Smart Home Tech: Selling Properties in a Hybrid Market, to promote your home while searching for houses. The post Virtual Tours and Smart Home Tech: Selling Properties in a Hybrid Market appeared first on FastExpert.

The Fed’s December interest-rate cut won’t move mortgage rates because markets have already priced it in.  The Fed cut interest rates in its latest meeting, as expected. The Fed committee was divided on how to proceed. Takeaway: Mortgage rates will remain largely unchanged in the near term with today’s Fed

AuthorChristy Crouch.  Date: December 10, 2025 3:45 pm Selling your home now has major benefits. Make your home shine and standout with limited competition and beat the spring rush. The post Real Estate Expert Answers: Sell My Home Now or Wait for Spring 2026? appeared first on FastExpert.

The share of Redfin users clicking into the climate-risk section of home listings nearly doubled after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires started burning. The same effect took hold in Florida during hurricane season. In both instances, the bump in user engagement was short-lived. House hunters on Redfin.com are more likely

This Week In A Nutshell   Markets expect the Fed to cut interest rates by 25 bps when they meet on Wednesday, meaning the cut itself will have little effect on rates. But a number of dissents are expected and they will also release formal projections for 2026. Those projections,

The average U.S. buyer’s agent commission rose to 2.42% in the third quarter from 2.36% a year earlier. Commissions were virtually flat from the previous quarter. Commissions were largely flat across different price tiers from the previous quarter, with the average buyer’s commission for homes under $500,000 maintaining the highest