Homebuying and Mortgage Statistics
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
Data experts on the mortgage team at NerdWallet dig into NerdWallet's survey research, as well as public datasets, to identify trends and provide insights on the ever-changing U.S. housing market. On this page, you'll find some of NerdWallet's most-read research and commentaries on home buyers and sellers, mortgage interest rates and homeownership.
For NerdWallet statistics and data on additional topics, including credit cards, banking and student loans, head to our studies and data analysis hub.
Have questions or want to speak with a NerdWallet expert? Reach out to [email protected].
Mortgage interest rates
Daily mortgage interest rates
More information on today's mortgage interest rates.
Mortgage interest rates this week
NerdWallet's mortgage interest rate forecast is updated weekly with commentary on mortgage rates and housing market trends.
Mortgage interest rates this month
NerdWallet home and mortgages expert Holden Lewis writes a monthly column covering the near-term forecast for mortgage rates.
Annual home buyer report
Every winter, NerdWallet collaborates with The Harris Poll to survey U.S. adults 18 years and older. The results provide a nationally representative snapshot of how Americans perceive the housing market.
2024 Home Buyer Report: Pessimism reigns as home buyers struggle and the goal of homeownership loses some of its luster.
2023 Home Buyer Report: Higher mortgage interest rates and apprehensions about the economy have Americans unsure about their ability to purchase homes.
2022 Home Buyer Report: Lingering effects of the pandemic stymie both prospective home buyers and sellers.
2021 Home Buyer Report: Pent-up demand from would-be home buyers clashes with a limited supply of homes for sale.
2020 Home Buyer Report: Buying a home is a top priority, especially for younger generations, but some feel locked out of homeownership.
2019 Home Buyer Report: Recent buyers have had to get competitive to close their deals, and many feel stretched by the costs of homeownership.
2018 Home Buyer Report: Homeownership is a widely shared goal, but concerns about costs keep some buyers sidelined.
Quarterly first-time home buyer affordability report
Each quarter, NerdWallet data analyst Elizabeth Renter analyzes information from sources including the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Association of Realtors to better understand the challenges facing first-time home buyers.
Q1 2024: Home prices remain high through the holidays, usually the least-expensive time of year.
Q4 2023: A slight bump in inventory isn't enough to ease affordability challenges.
Q3 2023: Higher mortgage rates outpace slight price declines seen in some metros.
Q2 2023: Seasonality appears to be returning to home prices.
Q1 2023: Banks' tighter lending standards add to the difficult climate for first-time buyers.
Q4 2022: Higher mortgage interest rates deter buyers, easing inventory woes.
Q3 2022: Price increases slow, but rising mortgage rates eat into potential savings.
Q2 2022: Falling wages and price growth intensify affordability struggles.
Q1 2022: Two years' worth of data highlights housing market challenges.
Q4 2021: High prices and low inventory are a double whammy in some markets.
Q3 2021: Moderate improvements may be blips, not trends.
Q2 2021: Notable year-over-year decline in affordability.
Q4 2020: Typical winter shifts in the housing market may help home buyers.
Q3 2020: Competition is hot for the limited supply of homes on the market.
Q2 2020: Real estate booms as the country comes out of quarantine.
Q1 2020: Home prices rise, even as the effects of the pandemic are unclear.
Recent housing market commentary
Holden Lewis, senior writer and spokesperson
The housing market displayed a split personality in June. Fewer people bought existing homes, yet prices jumped to an all-time high. In normal times, those two events wouldn't happen in the same month, because fewer buyers usually summon lower prices, while rising prices typically are a sign of increased demand from more buyers. But these aren't typical times.
Homeowners are only grudgingly listing their homes for sale because they don't like giving up their low mortgage rates. Not enough homes are on the market to meet demand, and this imbalance of supply and demand is driving up prices.
The good news is that the market is slowly inching toward balance. Some 1.32 million homes were on the market at the end of June, and that's a quarter of a million more than 12 months earlier. Each month, buyers have more inventory to choose from, and eventually this dynamic will keep house prices from rising so fast.
July 23, 2024
Holden Lewis is available for media interviews, discussing mortgages, homebuying and homeownership. Contact [email protected].
Latest housing market columns from Holden Lewis
Additional studies and data analysis
Home buyers
2023 data analysis: Expected budgets fall short of average home prices (Jan. 2023).
2022 data analysis: Calibrating expectations in a difficult housing market (Jan. 2022).
2021 study: Avoiding regret in a hot housing market (Sept. 2021).
2021 data analysis: Ingredients for buyer success in a hot market (Jan. 2021).
2019 data analysis: Comparing mortgage lenders could save buyers $30,000 (June 2019).
Home improvement
2022 study: After a boom in renovations and DIY projects, homeowners may dial back home improvement plans (Nov. 2022).
2020 study: Homeowners prioritize DIY and paying for projects with cash (Oct. 2020).
Home sellers
2023 data analysis: Why homeowners may want to sell despite higher interest rates (March 2023).
2022 data analysis: Benefits of selling in a hot housing market (Feb. 2022).
2021 study: What to expect listing a home in a seller's market (April 2021).
2019 study: What sellers should know before listing (May 2019) .
Housing market
2024 data analysis: Fluctuations in seasonal trends (April 2024).
2023 data analysis: Why some Americans choose to rent (Jan. 2024).
2023 data analysis: The return of seasonal housing market trends (July 2023).
2019 study: Affordability is the largest hurdle to Americans' relocation plans (Sept. 2019).
Mortgage denials
2022 data analysis: Higher home prices and debt contribute to home loan denials (Nov. 2023).
2021 data analysis: Competition and lack of collateral drive mortgage denials (Oct. 2022).
2020 data analysis: Tighter lending standards make some home loans harder to obtain (Nov. 2021).
2019 data analysis: Debt-to-income ratio most-cited reason for mortgage denials (Oct. 2020).
