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- 1US Mortgage Rates Climb Back to 7%●Mortgage Rates Hit 7%: What’s Next for the Housing Market? | WSJ News
Mortgage rates in the United States have returned to 7%, renewing concern about the housing market's direction. The Wall Street Journal examines what the rise means for buyers, sellers and home prices. Higher borrowing costs are expected to further strain affordability, and many are debating whether rates will stay elevated or ease in the months ahead.
- 2US mortgage rates climb above 7% as yields surge▼Mortgage rates break past 7% as bond yields surge, deepening U.S. housing gridlock
Average U.S. mortgage rates have climbed past 7% after a surge in Treasury bond yields, worsening the housing market's affordability crisis. Higher borrowing costs are keeping prospective buyers on the sidelines and locking in existing homeowners with low fixed rates, deepening the standoff between sellers and buyers and leaving home sales and construction activity under renewed pressure.
- 3Mortgage Rates Hit 7%, Deepening Lock-In Effect▼As Mortgage Rates Hit 7%, the Lock-In Effect Gets Stronger
Mortgage rates in the United States have reached 7%, strengthening the so-called lock-in effect, in which homeowners with cheaper existing loans avoid selling so they do not have to refinance at higher rates. The dynamic is limiting housing supply and keeping home prices elevated, adding to affordability pressures for prospective buyers.
- 4
Mortgage rates have climbed sharply, prompting warnings that the housing market could take a serious hit. Commentators in real estate circles say higher borrowing costs are pricing buyers out, cooling demand, and threatening sellers who must now accept lower prices. Homeowners and prospective buyers are debating whether to wait out the spike or proceed, with many bracing for a broader slowdown in home sales.
- 5Toronto and Vancouver ranked among world's weakest real estate markets▼Toronto and Vancouver were ranked among the weakest real estate markets in the world. Here’s why
Toronto and Vancouver have been ranked among the weakest-performing real estate markets globally, according to a new international ranking. Analysts point to high borrowing costs, steep home prices relative to incomes and cooling demand as key factors weighing on both cities' housing markets, in a shift from their years as some of the world's hottest property markets.
- 6Storms batter Hawaii as insurance premiums surge and growth slows▼Storms batter Hawaii as insurance premiums surge and economic growth slows to a crawl
Severe storms are hitting Hawaii at the same time the state faces a sharp rise in insurance premiums and economic growth has slowed to a crawl. Business coverage links the weather damage to rising costs for homeowners and companies, warning that expensive coverage could weigh further on an already sluggish island economy.
- 7US mortgage rates climb back above 7%●Housing affordability takes another hit as mortgage rates cross 7%
Average US mortgage rates have risen above 7%, dealing a fresh blow to housing affordability. The increase raises monthly payments for buyers and adds pressure to a market already strained by high home prices and limited inventory, with homeowners locked into lower rates showing little incentive to sell.
- 8
House prices are falling sharply, but commentators point to a potential upside for buyers priced out of the market. Falling values could ease affordability pressures and help first-time buyers enter, even as existing homeowners face losses. The topic is drawing attention amid ongoing concerns about housing costs and interest rates.
- 9
Hailstorms are causing billions of dollars in damage each year across the United States, and researchers warn the problem could intensify. Reporting by High Country News examines how severe hail is straining insurers, farmers and homeowners, and why warming conditions may be shaping larger, more destructive hailstones in the future.
- 10
New reporting highlights a list of US states where home insurance is projected to become unaffordable in 2026. Rising premiums, driven by climate-related disaster risk and rebuilding costs, are making coverage harder to afford for homeowners in the affected states. The report has been picked up by multiple local news outlets, drawing attention to growing coverage gaps.
- 11Many homeowners unknowingly lack adequate insurance coverage▼Many homeowners have a big insurance coverage gap — and don't even know it
CNBC reports that many homeowners are carrying a large gap in their insurance coverage without realizing it. Homeowners may believe their policy fully protects their property, but rising rebuilding costs and policy limits can leave them underinsured. The article urges homeowners to review their coverage levels and update policies to reflect current replacement costs.
- 12Australia in 2066: bigger, older, wealthier, more divided▼Australia in 2066 will be bigger older and wealthier but the housing divide will deepen
Australia is projected to have a larger, older and wealthier population by 2066, but analysts warn the gap between housing haves and have-nots will widen. The forecast suggests growth and prosperity will not be evenly shared, with homeowners accumulating wealth while renters and younger buyers face a deepening divide in affordability and access.
- 13
US mortgage rates have climbed above 7% for the first time in 20 months, a milestone for homebuyers already grappling with high property prices. The rise means significantly higher monthly payments on a typical home loan, and is being closely watched as a signal of pressure on the housing market and household affordability across the United States.
- 14Colorado scientists study hail as warming worsens storm damage▼Hail is a multibillion-dollar problem — and could get worse: At a #Colorado cold lab, scientists race to better understand hail in a warming world — Hannah Covington (High Country News) #ClimateChange
Scientists at a Colorado cold laboratory are working to better understand hail as the damage it causes continues to grow. Hail already causes billions of dollars in losses each year in the United States, and researchers warn that a warming climate could make severe hailstorms more frequent or more destructive. The reporting by Hannah Covington in High Country News highlights how little is still known about how hailstones form and grow inside storms, and why improved forecasting matters for insurers, farmers and homeowners across hail-prone regions.
- 15Fixed Mortgage Rates Rise Again This Week●Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Sunday, September 27, 2026: Fixed mortgage rates moved higher again compared to last week
Fixed mortgage and refinance interest rates moved higher again compared to the previous week, as reported on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The latest increase continues a recent upward trend in fixed-rate borrowing costs, a concern for prospective homebuyers weighing affordability and for homeowners considering refinancing existing loans.
- 16Homeowner Forced to Borrow Against House to Qualify for Medicaid▼His Mortgage-Free House Appraised at $760,000, Just $8,000 Over Medicaid’s Line. Nursing Home Coverage Waited Until He Borrowed Against It
An elderly homeowner with a mortgage-free house appraised at $760,000 was denied Medicaid nursing home coverage because his assets sat just $8,000 above the eligibility line. Coverage only began after he borrowed against the property to reduce his countable assets. The case is drawing attention to how strict asset limits can push seniors into debt to access long-term care.
- 17Australia auction clearance rates fall to 10-week low●Australia home auction clearances hit 10-week low as rate hike looms
Australia's home auction clearance rate has dropped to its lowest point in ten weeks, a sign that buyers are pulling back just as the Reserve Bank of Australia weighs another interest rate hike. Weak clearance rates typically point to softer housing demand and could add pressure on sellers to lower price expectations ahead of the central bank's decision.
- 18California homeowner gets first negative PG&E bill with battery exports▼California homeowner on NEM 3.0 gets first negative PG&E bill, thanks to August battery exports
A California homeowner on the state's NEM 3.0 solar billing scheme has received their first negative PG&E bill, with excess electricity exported from a home battery in August more than covering their usage charges. It is being cited as an example of how battery storage can offset the steep export-rate cuts introduced under NEM 3.0, which slashed payments for rooftop solar power sent to the grid.
- 19Maryland local governments push for more taxing power as home costs climb▼SUN: Why local governments seek more taxing power as Maryland homes become too costly
The Baltimore Sun reports that Maryland local governments are seeking expanded taxing authority as home prices rise beyond the reach of many residents. With housing affordability worsening across the state, officials argue they need new revenue tools to fund services, while critics worry additional taxes would deepen the burden on already struggling homeowners.
- 20Tesla Powerwall 3 helps California homeowner beat PG&E peak rates▼California homeowner couldn't install solar, then a Powerwall 3 took on PG&E's peak rates
A California homeowner who was unable to install rooftop solar has turned to a Tesla Powerwall 3 battery instead, charging it when electricity is cheap and running the house during PG&E's expensive peak-rate hours. The story highlights how home batteries are becoming a workaround for residents blocked from solar, and a way to cut bills under the utility's time-of-use pricing.
- 21Mortgage rates keep rising into the weekend▼Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, Saturday, September 26, 2026: Mortgage rates keep rising into the weekend
Mortgage and refinance interest rates continued climbing on Saturday, September 26, 2026, extending a recent upward trend according to Yahoo Finance's daily rate report. The rise means higher borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers heading into the weekend. Homeowners weighing a refinance may also face less favorable terms as rates move upward with no clear sign of a pullback yet.
- 22New Jersey homeowner rewilds front yard with native plants▼N.J. homeowner ‘rewilded’ his front yard. Inside the controversial return to native gardens.
A New Jersey homeowner has converted his front lawn into a rewilded native garden, sparking debate in his community. The move taps into a growing national conversation about replacing traditional turf grass with native plantings that support pollinators and wildlife. Native yards can clash with local ordinances and neighborhood expectations about tidy lawns, making them a flashpoint between environmental advocates and fans of conventional landscaping.
- 23Florida veteran says solar panels doubled her electric bills▼Florida Army veteran was promised 'zero' electric bills. Instead, she says solar doubled costs
An Army veteran in Florida says she was promised zero electric bills when she signed up for residential solar panels, but her costs instead doubled. Her account adds to growing complaints about aggressive door-to-door solar sales tactics, misleading savings claims, and long-term financing contracts that leave homeowners paying more than expected, prompting calls for better consumer protections in the fast-growing rooftop solar industry.
- 24Australian homeowner makes $25,000 upsizing move amid RBA rate squeeze●Aussie makes $25,000 upsizing move as RBA squeezes home borrowers: 'Perfect opportunity'
An Australian borrower has sold up and upsized in a move valued at $25,000, describing the current market as a 'perfect opportunity'. The story frames the decision against the Reserve Bank of Australia's tight monetary policy, which has pushed up mortgage costs and squeezed household budgets, cooling buyer demand and giving some homeowners unexpected leverage when trading up.