Mortgage lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 for Fannie and Freddie loans
A federal policy change lets approved lenders use VantageScore 4.0 for eligible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, but it does not guarantee lower costs.
Housing Affordability
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July Housing Starts Fell as Building Permits Rebounded
July permits rose, but housing starts and completions fell, showing why new authorizations have not yet translated into more homes for buyers and renters.
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Australia’s Median Apartment Rent Tops Half of Pay in Every Capital
An advocacy-group assessment estimates that a single worker earning A$70,000 would spend 51% to 69% of take-home pay on median apartment rent across Australia’s capitals.
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New-home sales fell sharply in July as affordability stayed strained
U.S. new-home sales fell 10.5% in July as inventory rose to 9.6 months of supply, but mortgage rates near 6.66% limited the benefit of lower prices.
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Australia’s rental stress persists as housing target slips to 2030
Australia’s latest rental index still flags widespread housing stress as construction improves, the 1.2 million-home target slips to 2030 and rent aid rises.
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Former South San Francisco Ramada Inn Being Converted to Senior Housing
Renovation is underway at the former Ramada Inn on Airport Boulevard, with the project expected to open later in 2026 for seniors at risk of homelessness.
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UN-Habitat Says Nearly 40% of Humanity Is Caught in a Global Housing Crisis
UN-Habitat estimates that around 3 billion people are affected by soaring housing costs, shortages, poor living conditions or limited access to basic urban services.
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Temple Acquires Santa Fe Trails Mobile-Home Park for Public Use
Temple has acquired the Santa Fe Trails Mobile Home Park through a mediated settlement and is working with residents as the property’s future takes shape.
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Gloucester Releases Draft Housing Compass Plan for Public Review
Gloucester has released a draft Housing Compass Plan that will guide public discussion about housing, affordability, zoning and community development before any final adoption.
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UN-Habitat Puts Housing at the Center of Its 2026 Global Cities Assessment
UN-Habitat’s 2026 reports identify housing affordability and inadequate homes as central global urban challenges, with demand projected to reach 167 million additional homes by 2040.
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U.S. mortgage rates reach a one-year high after five straight weekly increases
The average U.S. long-term mortgage rate rose for a fifth consecutive week by Aug. 7, reaching its highest level in just over a year as home prices remained elevated.
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U.S. mortgage rates rise for a fifth straight week to a one-year high
Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates climbed for a fifth consecutive week, reaching their highest level in just over a year and adding pressure to homebuyers.
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U.N. Midterm Review on July 16 Puts Housing Affordability at the Center of the Global Urban Agenda
A United Nations review of the New Urban Agenda linked housing costs, displacement, climate shocks and strained urban services, while calling for stronger action by governments before 2030.
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Longview Publishes 2026 Strategic Housing Study and Plan
Longview published a 2026 housing study and policy plan on July 16, giving officials a current framework for future decisions on supply and affordability.
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Federal housing data show U.S. home prices still rising as mortgage-finance support expands
U.S. house prices rose 0.4% in August and 2.3% from a year earlier, while Fannie Mae reported $241 billion in housing-market funding during the first half of 2026.
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30-Year Mortgage Rate Rises to 6.69%, Reaching a One-Year High
Freddie Mac’s national weekly benchmark rose for a fifth straight week, adding pressure to borrowers and making refinancing less attractive.
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30-year mortgage rate rose to 6.69%, highest level in more than a year
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose for a fifth consecutive week on Aug. 6, adding to affordability pressure for prospective homebuyers as economic growth slows.
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UN Review on July 16–17 Says Cities Are Falling Behind on Housing and Infrastructure
The UN General Assembly’s midterm review of the New Urban Agenda called for faster implementation, stronger urban planning and better financing for local governments as cities grow and face rising climate risks.
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Average 30-year mortgage rate reaches 6.66%, highest level in a year
The national average 30-year mortgage rate rose for a fourth straight week, while home prices continued to increase in May, adding pressure to buyers and refinancers.
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Apartment Supply Cools, Limiting Broad Rent Relief
Apartment completions are slowing after the 2024 construction peak, while high vacancy and concessions still offer localized relief in parts of the South.
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June housing-affordability reading leaves buyers a narrow cushion
The national housing-affordability index fell to 102.3 in June, leaving median-income buyers a narrow cushion as prices and mortgage rates remain elevated.
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Home prices remain near records as U.S. sales slow
June sales slowed as the median existing-home price hit a record, giving some buyers more negotiating room without easing monthly housing costs.