From Our Economists
How You Can Protect Your Home From Climate Change
Originally published to Forbes on July 24, 2023. Climate change is not a distant threat, but a present danger that is already wreaking havoc on our
September Fed Rate Hike is Hard to Imagine After Another Month of Good Inflation News
This morning’s report on consumer prices came in exactly in line with expectations: The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% month over month in July
Why Are So Many Luxury Condos Built In Cities That Face An Affordable Housing Crisis?
Originally published to Forbes on May 30, 2023. Despite a lack of affordable housing, many American cities have seen a paradoxical proliferation of new luxury
A Debt-Ceiling Crisis Would Hit the Housing Market Like a Hurricane
Originally published to Forbes on May 18, 2023. Natural disasters like hurricanes and snowstorms tend to temporarily halt housing market activity in affected areas. If
Redfin Economist Q&A: Tips For Homebuying & Selling As Mortgage Rates Remain Elevated
Many homebuyers and sellers have backed off as persistent inflation and mixed economic signals send mortgage rates up. But for people who are moving now,
Redfin Economist Q&A: Advice for People Who Need to Move Now While Housing Costs Remain Near Record Highs
Many prospective buyers and sellers have retreated to the sidelines as mortgage rates near 7% and home prices remain high, sending sales and new listings
Fed Projects Rates Will Be Higher For Longer, Upping Chance of Elevated Mortgage Rates Into Next Year
The Fed increased projections for 2024 and 2025 rates at its September meeting, though it kept rates unchanged for now. That will likely keep mortgage
The UAW Strike Could Be a Drag on the U.S. Economy: Here’s the Good News and Bad News For the Housing Market
The United Auto Workers strike could hamper U.S. economic growth and potentially encourage the Fed to lower interest rates, which would bring down mortgage rates.
Disappointing Inflation Report Increases Odds of a November or December Rate Hike
The Fed remains unlikely to hike rates at next week’s policy meeting The latest inflation report on consumer prices in August came in a hair
Nepo-Homebuyers: 40% of Under 30s Received Family Money for Down Payment
Originally published to Forbes on August 21, 2023. An eye-popping 38% of recent homebuyers under age 30 used either a cash gift from a family member
September Rate Hike Increasingly Unlikely After This Week’s Jobs Report
The August jobs report keeps the probability of the Fed hiking interest rates in September very low. That could be promising for homebuyers watching for
Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are Still So High Despite All the Good News on Inflation
Despite the fact that promising inflation data has led to expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates soon, mortgage rates remain above 7%. That’s
