Mortgage rates rose last week to the highest level since August 2025, and that caused homebuyer demand for loans to pull back. Refinance demand, however, moved higher.

Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home fell 7% from the previous week and were 2% lower than the same week one year ago. Buyers are still contending with high home prices as well as lean supply of affordable homes for sale.

Mortgage demand has dropped for the first time in over a year as the war and economic uncertainty remain top of mind. Mortgage applications to purchase a home were 7% lower than the same week one year ago. Applications to refinacen a home loan were 4% lower than the same week one year ago.

Home sellers are relisting properties at the fastest pace in a decade, but the spring supply is still low. The all important spring housing market is off and running, and while the pace isn't expected to be strong, there are signs of optimism, at least among home sellers. Some who gave up last year are jumping back in.

Active listing, meanwhile were up 7.9% in January, year over year, but that number has been shrinking for nine straight months. Overall, listing are still down 17% from 2019, pre pandemic.

Commercial real estate deal volume up 17% in 2025

Multifamily and Office building have been leading the commercial real estate sector the past 9-12 months. Multifamily has seen a surge in thanks to the higher interest rates which has kept home buyers out of the housing market. Office is still recovering since the Pandemic. However, as more and more companies implement a return to the office, these numbers will only increase. 

Mortgage Demand drops 8.5% as interest rates rise to their highest level in 3 weeks. Applications to refinance a home loan also dropped 16% for that time period.

While the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate this week, mortgage rates responded by doing just the opposite.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage has jumped 20 basis points since Fed Chairman Jerome Powell announced the cut on Wednesday and held a news conference, according to Mortgage News Daily.

This happened the last time the Fed lowered its rate as well, and the reason is pretty simple: the bond market had already priced in a cut, but it didn’t like the commentary from Fed Chairman Powell.

-Back to the office has hit a 5 year high as more companies look to bring the workforce back to the workplace.

-There is now more housing inventory available than anytime in the last 6 years.

-Housing affordability is still the #1 issue in America right now.

home Price hikes are slowing more than expected.

Home prices in formerly hot pandemic markets are now starting to fall. Mortgage rates remain stubbornly high, with no sign of dropping. Prices are unlikely to drop dramatically, as there are still too few homes for sale.

Rising supply and slowing demand in the housing market are finally causing prices to cool off, and the weakness is accelerating.

Recent schemes in and around New Hampshire regarding home title fraud are increasing. These schemes involve fraudsters who forge documents to record phony transfer of property ownership. Then, the fraudster can sell the land or home, take a mortgage on it, or rent it out to make a profit. This then forces the original property owner to head to courts to reclaim their property.

What can you do:

1. Setup a google alert on your property address. So that you are notified each time your address is googled.

2. Contact a title insurance company to see if insurance is available for deed fraud in your area and/or state.

3. Regularly monitor Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.. to see if your property is available for rent or sale.

New purchase demand jumped 11% last week.  Consumer sentiment and confidence seems to be high! Was last weeks bump just a blip or will the momentum continue as we enter the spring market?