• Refinance Trends in the First Quarter of 2020

    American homeowners have many options when it comes to mortgage financing. Most homeowners with a mortgage opt for a fully pre-payable 30-year fixed rate mortgage. The fixed rate locks in a fixed payment for the life of the loan, while the 30-year term lowers the required monthly payment. More

  • The Housing Supply Shortage: State of the States

    The United States suffers from a severe housing shortage. In a recent study, The Major Challenge of Inadequate U.S. Housing Supply, we estimated that 2.5 million additional housing units will be needed to make up this shortage. Our earlier study used national statistics, treating the United States as a single market. What happens when we look closer, basing the analysis at the state level? More

  • Family Budget Burdens Squeezing Housing: Child Care Costs

    There's something else keeping Susan and Peter up at night besides their newborn and 2-year-old: wondering how to pay the bills. More

  • Proximity to a Metro Rail Station and Its Impact on Washington, DC Metropolitan House Prices: Amenity or Not?

    Location, Location, Location are the three magic words when it comes to real estate. Everyone shops for the “right location” when buying a home, but determining the right location varies tremendously from buyer to buyer. More

  • Freddie Mac's Mortgage Rate Survey Explained

    Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is the longest running weekly survey of mortgage interest rates in the United States. Since Freddie Mac launched its survey in 1971, others have begun collecting and reporting mortgage rate information. More

  • Fulfilling the Dream of Homeownership: How Do Families and Others Play a Role?

    For many prospective homebuyers, saving for a down payment is the largest barrier to achieving the goal of homeownership. Part of the challenge for those planning to purchase a home is their perception of how much they will need to save for the down payment. More