Mortgage & Economy

Key findings Black-white mortgage denial rate gaps are higher in lower-income, less-expensive housing markets. A meaningful share of the variation across markets is associated with black-white differences in applicant income and in the share of applicants carrying very high debt burdens. Black applicants are denied mortgages at higher rates than white applicants in every one…

In short: Mortgage rates are caught between cooler inflation data and renewed energy risks. Softer June inflation reduced the likelihood of a near-term Federal Reserve rate increase, but higher oil prices are keeping pressure on the inflation outlook and borrowing costs. Mortgage rates remain elevated as inflation relief met renewed energy risks Two opposing forces…

Zillow forecasts 3.0% rent inflation, 3.3% OER inflation annually in June, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The post Zillow: CPI Shelter Forecast, June 2026 appeared first on Zillow Research.

June CPI came in soft across the board, beating expectations. Headline inflation fell to 3.5% and core cooled to 2.6%, both better than forecast. Markets slashed the odds of a July rate hike within minutes of the release. But Fed Governor Christopher Waller says one good reading isn’t a trend, and the durability of this…

The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose 6 basis points this week to 6.55%, its highest level since August 2025, as renewed doubt about a Middle East resolution kept Treasury yields elevated despite an encouraging inflation report.