Mortgage & Economy
Mortgage rates, Federal Reserve policy, employment, inflation, and what they mean for Bay Area affordability.
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Black-White Mortgage Denial Gaps are Widest Where Applicants are Most Financially Stretched
Key findings Black-white mortgage denial rate gaps are higher in lower-income, less-expensive housing markets. A meaningful share of the variation across markets is associated with black-white differences in applicant income and in the share of applicants carrying very high debt burdens. Black applicants are denied mortgages at higher rates than white applicants in every one…
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June FOMC meeting: Fed Pauses, but Rate Hikes Are Back on the Table
In short: In Chairman Kevin Warsh’s first meeting, the Committee unanimously left the target rate unchanged, but half of SEP participants expected higher rates by the end of 2026. What’s next for rates? In the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), half of the 18 participants expected at least one hike by year-end; 8 expected no…
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Home Shopping Season Shows Signs of Life As Sales, New Listings Rebound (Zillow June Market Report)
Lower mortgage costs and sales jump offer hope, even as inventory growth hits a three-year low The post Home Shopping Season Shows Signs of Life As Sales, New Listings Rebound (Zillow June Market Report) appeared first on Zillow Research.
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Zillow: CPI Shelter Forecast, June 2026
Zillow forecasts 3.0% rent inflation, 3.3% OER inflation annually in June, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The post Zillow: CPI Shelter Forecast, June 2026 appeared first on Zillow Research.
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Mortgage Rates Remain Elevated as Cooler Inflation Meets Renewed Oil Risks
In short: Mortgage rates are caught between cooler inflation data and renewed energy risks. Softer June inflation reduced the likelihood of a near-term Federal Reserve rate increase, but higher oil prices are keeping pressure on the inflation outlook and borrowing costs. Mortgage rates remain elevated as inflation relief met renewed energy risks Two opposing forces…
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June 2026 CPI: Soft Inflation Report Beats Expectations, Fed Likely to Remain on Pause but Vigilant in July
June CPI came in soft across the board, beating expectations. Headline inflation fell to 3.5% and core cooled to 2.6%, both better than forecast. Markets slashed the odds of a July rate hike within minutes of the release. But Fed Governor Christopher Waller says one good reading isn’t a trend, and the durability of this…
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Mortgage rates rise to highest level since August 2025
The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose 6 basis points this week to 6.55%, its highest level since August 2025, as renewed doubt about a Middle East resolution kept Treasury yields elevated despite an encouraging inflation report.
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Why Aaron Kirman is betting on AI, crypto and new development
Aaron Kirman outlines why he launched Christie’s SoCal in 2022 and how AI, crypto and development units are shaping growth.
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UHM acquires AmeriTrust assets, expands non-QM footprint
Union Home Mortgage Corp. (UHM) has acquired AmeriTrust Mortgage Corp. in an asset deal that closed in 45 days, boosting UHM’s exposure to the nonqualified mortgage (non-QM) market.
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Newrez servicing arm sued in New Jersey over alleged RESPA violations
Homeowner alleges Shellpoint delayed loss-mitigation reviews and sent inconsistent figures while foreclosure activity continued.








