Highway Blog
Latest News
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Mortgage Market News
This succinct analysis of the previous week’s news shows what’s happening in the markets and why.
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Inflation Ticks Higher, Housing Appreciation Forecasts Hold Firm
June 1, 2026
Annual inflation moved higher in April, while new home sales came in below expectations. At the same time, long-term home price forecasts continue to reinforce the wealth-building potential of homeownership.
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Housing Mixed, Fed Divided on Next Steps
May 26, 2026
April saw a slowdown in single-family housing construction, even as signed contracts for existing homes rose for a third straight month and beat expectations. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s April meeting minutes highlighted disagreement among policymakers over the path forward.
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Inflation Surges, Home Sales Edge Higher
May 18, 2026
Inflation accelerated in April at both the consumer and wholesale levels, alongside a modest increase in existing home sales.
Talking Points
Views on all the real estate news from the past week, deep dives on trending topics, a bit of inspiration, and more.
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Weekend Talking Points - 'What's the Deal?'
May 29, 2026
Average mortgage rates moved higher as the market absorbed the latest inflation data (a big jump in PCE) and flattish home prices (Case-Shiller). The US and Iran say that they are getting closer to a “deal” but we’ve heard this story before.
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Weekend Talking Points - '6 7'
May 22, 2026
Average 30-yr mortgage rates jumped last week, as reaccelerating inflation pushed global bond yields higher. Yet despite higher mortgage rates, April pending home sales still rose (for the 3rd-straight month).
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Weekend Talking Points - 'Oh My!'
May 15, 2026
Oh my! That April CPI! Inflation surged on higher energy prices, which affect a lot more than just gasoline and jet fuel prices (airline tickets, fertilizer, etc.) So far, the housing market is showing resilience, but there is little doubt that higher mortgage rates are keeping spring/summer transaction volumes more muted than they would be otherwise.
MBS Highway Housing Index
Real-time updates on homebuyer activity, pricing pressure and sales pace both regionally and nationally.
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May 2026 MBS Highway Housing Index
May 11, 2026
The MBS Highway National Housing Index rose 5 points in May 2026, climbing from 42 in April to 47. Buyer activity rebounded sharply from last month’s rate-driven pullback, hitting exactly 50 — the expansion threshold — while price direction continued its slow but steady climb.
April 2026 MBS Highway Housing Index
April 12, 2026
The MBS Highway National Housing Index fell 5 points in April 2026, dropping from 47 in March to 42. While national price direction remained relatively steady, buyer activity declined sharply, likely reflecting the recent rise in mortgage rates.
March 2026 MBS Highway Housing Index
March 10, 2026
The MBS Highway National Housing Index rose 4 points in March 2026, climbing from 43 in February to 47. A year ago, the index stood at 45. The spring seasonal upswing continues to build, with the buyer activity sub-index crossing into expansion territory for the first time since May 2024.
Visionary Voices
This in-depth analysis by our team of experts on crucial topics like inflation, the Fed and economic data will help you address your clients’ biggest questions and concerns.
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The Wealth Building Power of Homeownership
March 31, 2026
Even amid market uncertainty, buying a home now can boost long-term wealth: home prices are projected to rise about 4.4% over the next year, and purchasing early – by age 30 – can lead to a 22.5% higher net worth by age 50.
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The Cost of Waiting for Lower Rates
March 4, 2026
Many buyers are delaying their home purchase, hoping mortgage rates will come down. That sounds logical, but waiting could cost you more than you expect.
Pivotal Week for the Fed
January 30, 2026
A busy week at the Federal Reserve featured President Trump’s plan to nominate Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair and a divided decision to hold interest rates steady.
Borrower-Ready Insights
Easy-to-share content that helps explain mortgage basics, common pitfalls, and buyer considerations.
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FAQ: What does debt-to-income ratio mean?
June 2, 2026
Your debt-to-income ratio plays a major role in the mortgage approval process. Here's what it means, how it's calculated, and why it matters when buying a home.
FAQ: Why can home prices stay high even when mortgage rates rise?
May 26, 2026
Many buyers assume higher mortgage rates should lead to falling home prices, but limited inventory and local market conditions can continue to support prices even as borrowing costs rise.
FAQ: How do interest rates impact my homebuying power?
May 19, 2026
Interest rates are one of the biggest factors shaping affordability, influencing both your monthly payment and price range.
Product Updates
Enhancements we’re making to help industry professionals better serve their clients.
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Product Update Alert: Strike Rate
MBS Highway is excited to announce our new Strike Rate tool, which was designed to help our subscribers capture more refinance opportunities that are sitting right in their pipeline – immediately as they become available.
Product Update Alert: Buy vs Rent
Help your clients realize the true advantages of owning a home with our enhanced Buy vs Rent tool.
Product Update Alert: Cost of Waiting
Our updated Cost of Waiting tool helps our subscribers demonstrate how delaying a purchase for even a year or two could cost buyers thousands in appreciation, amortization, equity and more.
