Pending sales and new home construction both stumbled in September, while safe-haven demand boosted bonds. Here’s what you need to know.

Learn how mortgage payments are structured, how the balance shifts from interest to principal, and what that means for your loan over time.

The MBS Highway National Housing Index fell to 15 in October, down from 22 in September, marking its fifth consecutive monthly decline. After reaching a seasonal high of 47 in May, the index has continued to weaken, with both buyer activity and home price direction declining sharply from the previous month.

Four categories drove nearly all of July’s core PCE inflation increase, with portfolio management alone accounting for about half of the monthly rise.

With the US/Iran peace process underway, oil prices have fallen back to pre-war levels, but mortgage rates remain high (due to concerns about the Fed’s hawkish tilt). But inflation may have already peaked, and mortgage rates should follow inflation lower.

We’re excited to introduce an expanded Home Report designed to help future homeowners feel more confident about buying their first home – from getting financially prepared to navigating the path to homeownership.