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October 8, 2026

2 days ago
2 min read

The ‘Silver Tsunami’ Could Solve the Inventory Problem – and Create a Demand Problem

Realtor.com


The forecast “silver tsunami” might bring enough homes to ease the country’s long-running inventory shortage, but it might expose an entirely new problem in its place.


Between 2026 and 2036, an estimated 13.9 million homes currently occupied by baby boomers and the silent generation will be released from older owner-occupancy, according to the Generational Housing Succession report from Realtor.com released on Monday.



New Law Targets Spam Calls Fueled by Mortgage Trigger Leads

Mortgage Professional


A credit check is the gateway to a home loan. Until March, it was also a starting gun for calls and texts from lenders the borrower had never contacted, driven by a data practice known as a mortgage trigger lead.


The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (HPPA), signed by President Donald Trump on September 5, 2025, and effective March 5, 2026, amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to restrict who can access trigger lead data.


Credit bureaus may now only sell that information to lenders with a preexisting relationship with the borrower, such as the current bank or loan servicer, unless the consumer explicitly opts in.



High Mortgage Rates Are Trapping Homeowners in Place, and Making Renovations Harder to Afford

CNBC


A new bill introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) aims to make homeownership a reality for more Americans by allowing them to receive up to $50,000 from the federal government for a first-time home purchase.


The Homeownership Promise Act, cosponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, would allow Americans to open Homeownership Promise Accounts to save for a first-time home purchase. For every dollar put into the account, the federal government would match it at a 5:1 ratio, up to $50,000 in federal matching funds.



California Home Prices Have Soared Since 1984, Tripling in Some Markets

Yahoo!


The new study, conducted by Clever Real Estate, compares current median home prices versus what homes would cost if prices kept pace with inflation since 1984.


The report reveals that since 1984, home prices have grown 441% while inflation only grew 210%. If prices matched inflation, the median home would cost $242,309 today compared to $423,100 nationwide.


The largest gaps between home prices and inflation in dollar terms were in California cities.



Average Long-Term U.S. Mortgage Rate at Highest Level in Nearly 3 Years After 7th Weekly Rise in a Row

Associated Press


Mortgage rates marched higher for the seventh week in a row, driving the average long-term U.S. home loan rate to its highest level in nearly three years.


The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 7.40% from 7.28% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.30%.

The average rate is now the highest it’s been since Nov. 16, 2023, when it was at 7.44%.


 
 
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