“Mortgage rates decreased for the first time since August, as concerns about supply-chain bottlenecks, waning consumer confidence, weaker economic growth and rising inflation pushed Treasury yields lower.” — MBA associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting Joel Kan

Rental prices are surging to an all-time high after dropping considerably in 2020 due to the pandemic. In September, median rents in the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. jumped 13.6% compared to the same month last year,

Millennials are purchasing houses — finally. Over the past year, millennials made up the largest share of homebuyers: 37% according to Barron’s.

Boston and Raleigh had the highest bidding-war rates, as the rate fell to a 2021 low.

“Contract transactions slowed a bit in September and are showing signs of a calmer home price trend, as the market is running comfortably ahead of pre-pandemic activity.” — NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun

Home-price gains were once again broadly distributed, as all 20 cities in the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index rose, although in most cases at a slower rate than a month ago.

At the same time, the increase in interest rates drove fewer borrowers to refinance their loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The month also saw a slight shift in inventory, even though shortages continued.

“There simply aren’t enough homes for sale relative to the demand fueled by millennials armed with low mortgage rate-driven house-buying power.” — First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi

The median existing-home price for all housing types in September was $352,800, up 13.3% on an annual basis, as every region in the country registered price increases.

South Florida’s rebounding luxury residential market is still going strong, with the third quarter of 2021 producing substantial year-over-year increases, according to a recent Keyes/Illustrated Luxury Property report.  The report, produced by the Keyes Company and Illustrated Properties, shows

The decrease was driven by a 5.1% month-over-month slide in the rate of multifamily starts, while single-family construction was flat.

Lack of inventory continues to restrict home sales as fewer homes sold in September, and closed home sales dropped.

Active inventory fell 6.8% to 19,683 from August, and months supply of inventory slid 11.9%, according to RE/MAX’s National Housing Report for September. 

Climate change will negatively impact the already-stunted housing inventory in the U.S., according to a recent Redfin report.

It’s been barely three months since the federal moratorium on foreclosures expired, but it’s starting to prove costly, as nationally, foreclosures are on the rise, having increased 67% from last year.