The Mortgage Bankers Association noted the increase in borrowing activity came despite the 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbing to its highest level since November 2022. 

In January, home prices were up 5.5% annually and down 0.2% monthly, CoreLogic reported, citing its monthly Home Price Insights report. 

Buyers have more choices as inventory makes a fast recovery, according to a new Realtor.com report.

People staying in their homes longer is contributing to the lack of inventory that continues to impact buyers.

As home prices have surged in many places over the last five years, Illinois lagged the national average.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index rose 5.8% year-over-year in December, compared to a 7.6% gain in November.

The 8.1% month-over-month increase in the National Association of REALTORS® Pending Home Sales Index was the largest gain since June 2020. 

The median sales price of a new home declined on both a monthly and yearly basis, however, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.        

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.32% as of Feb. 16, up from 6.12% a week before and 3.92% a year earlier. 

The average size of new apartments across the country has decreased by 30 square feet year over year, according to a new report from RentCafe.

According to a new analysis from Zillow, there will still be competition for affordably-priced houses this homebuying season.

The pace of mortgage applications fell 7.7% in the week ended Feb. 10, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported. 

Builder confidence rose for the second consecutive month in February with a seven-point increase that brought it to its highest level since last September, the National Association of Home Builders said. 

With the spring housing market just around the corner, homebuyers are getting more for their money as their mortgage payments are stretching further than they have in recent months.

Forty-eight percent of mortgaged homes were equity rich in the fourth quarter of last year.

The 30-year fixed rate fell for the fifth week in a row, giving a lift to lending activity, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.