Chen Zhao

Chen Zhao is the head of economics research, where she produces research on the housing market for public and internal audiences.

Previously, she was an executive director leading housing finance and financial markets research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chen was an economics consultant at Analysis Group, Inc., where she worked on financial litigation cases and led teams conducting health economics and outcomes research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

While in graduate school, Chen was with the Center for Economic Studies and the Social Economic and Housing Statistics Division at the US Census Bureau, where she conducted applied microeconomics research using large scale restricted-access linked survey-administrative data. She started her career at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, where she focused on labor and health economics.

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Most Recent

Mortgage Rates Expected to Stay Put After Today’s Mild Inflation Report

January 13, 2026

Takeaway: Mortgage rates are unlikely to move after a mild inflation report still marred by government shutdown-related distortions. Looking through the statistical issues, inflation likely

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: Mortgage Rates Dipped After Trump’s Mortgage-Bond Move, Fed Turmoil and Inflation Data Loom

January 12, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: Mortgage rates dropped last week after President Trump announced $200B of MBS purchases. This week starts with news of the

Mixed Jobs Report Unlikely to Move Mortgage Rates Further

January 9, 2026

Takeaway: Another low hire-low fire jobs report leaves the Fed on track to leave rates alone for the next couple of meetings as expected, implying mortgage rates will

Trump Orders $200B Mortgage Bond Buy, Which Will Likely Nudge Rates Down Slightly to 6%

January 8, 2026

The ultimate impact of such a move would likely be limited because this would be a relatively small asset purchase program, by historical standards. President

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: First Jobs Report of 2026 Could Impact Mortgage Rates

January 5, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell The first jobs report of 2026—and the first “normal” report post-government shutdown—will be published on Friday. We’ll be on the

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: Mortgage Rates Remain Steady Despite Problematic Inflation, Jobs Reports

December 22, 2025

This Week In A Nutshell Mortgage rates are flat despite a much lower than expected inflation report and slightly weak jobs report last week