
Get Sellers To Pay Your Closing Costs
The typical home buyer pays 2.06% in closing costs. Use Seller Concessions to get the seller to pay some or all of those closing costs on your behalf.
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Watch our videos covering mortgage rates, Federal Reserve policy, housing legislation, and market trends. We publish new video updates multiple times per week, with each video delivering key mortgage news in 60 seconds or less.
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Page updated December 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM

The typical home buyer pays 2.06% in closing costs. Use Seller Concessions to get the seller to pay some or all of those closing costs on your behalf.

The Federal Reserve is expected to lower the Fed Funds Rate by 0.25% to a range near 3.75% during its final meeting of the year. However, this change may not lead to a decrease in mortgage rates, as market reactions depend more on the Fed's future monetary policy signals.

The National Association of REALTORS® surveyed nearly 170,000 recent home buyers. The primary motivation for purchasing a home was the desire to own rather than rent, with 25% citing this reason, and 51% of buyers under 35 stating they simply wanted to buy.

The December jobs report will not be issued due to government dysfunction, leaving key labor market data unavailable. This includes updates on job creation or loss, the unemployment rate, and wage earnings, which are important for the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting.

A new bipartisan housing bill, HR 6125, will reduce mortgage insurance premiums by 0.25% for first-time home buyers who complete HUD-certified financial counseling. This could save eligible buyers approximately $50 per month on a $250,000 mortgage, totaling nearly $20,000 over 30 years.

Recent claims that the median age of first-time home buyers is now 40 years old, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, have been challenged. Critics point to a low response rate of 3.5% in their survey and highlight alternative data sources, such as the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey, which indicate that the typical first-time buyer is still in their low-30s.

Grand County, Utah, Hickman County, Tennessee, Lake County, and Moffitt County in Colorado have been assigned higher loan limits for 2026 as high-cost areas. This brings the total to 160 U.S. counties with conforming mortgage limits above baseline levels, reflecting higher living costs.

The unofficial start to the housing season begins after Thanksgiving, with many first-time buyers considering home purchases. While housing costs have risen and inventory is low, mortgage rates have decreased by about 5/8ths from last year, making it a potentially advantageous time to explore options.

In October, the number of homes going into contract increased by nearly 2% from the previous month, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Pending Home Sales Index. Notably, 19% of listings sold for over the asking price, and one in five buyers waived home inspections and appraisal contingencies.

The 2026 conforming mortgage loan limits have been announced. The baseline limit for 1-unit homes is set at $832,750, with higher limits for multi-unit properties.
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On November 25, 2025, the government will release new mortgage loan limits for conforming, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. These limits determine the maximum borrowing amount eligible for backing by these agencies and vary by county.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, Existing Home Sales increased to 4.1 million on an annualized basis in October, despite the government shutdown. Sales to first-time buyers rose, while investor purchases declined, with two-thirds of sales priced under $500,000.

Mortgage rates are easing following a jobs report that revealed double the expected net new jobs for September, but unemployment rose to a four-year high. The Federal Reserve's next meeting on December 10 may lead to a wait-and-see approach due to mixed economic data, with November's report delayed until December 16.

A recent analysis identified the most popular U.S. cities for second home purchases. Leading locations include Stone Harbor, New Jersey, where 89% of homes sold are vacation properties, alongside Stratton, Vermont, and Block Island, Rhode Island.

Buyer traffic at model homes reached its highest point in nine months, according to the National Association of Homebuilders Housing Market Index. 41% of builders reduced prices in November, and two-thirds now offer buyer incentives.

The September jobs report will be released on November 19, following a six-week government shutdown. This data is considered stale, and its accuracy is questioned due to the recent firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics head after a disappointing report in August.

The concept of portable mortgages, recently suggested by the government, is deemed unfeasible due to the nature of mortgage securitization and state laws. Experts argue that lenders profit from issuing new loans, making such a plan unlikely.

The discussion around 50-year mortgages is viewed as a distraction by industry experts. There is currently no market infrastructure to support these loans on a mass scale, making them unlikely to gain traction.

Fannie Mae announced that effective November 16, 2025, there will be no minimum credit score requirement for new mortgage applications. Previously, applicants needed a credit score of at least 620 for conventional mortgages.

On Election Day, major U.S. cities have been ranked based on political leanings, job openings, income tax rates, and lifestyle factors. The study incorporates voting data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, categorizing cities from Very Democrat to Very Republican.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have evolved and are no longer as risky as they were two decades ago. Current ARMs typically offer a fixed rate for the first five years, followed by adjustments based on predetermined rules, potentially saving borrowers 0.500 to 0.750 percentage points annually compared to fixed-rate loans.

Mortgage rates experience slight changes during Federal Reserve weeks, averaging a movement of 0.073 percentage points compared to 0.07 percentage points in regular weeks. This indicates minimal long-term impact from Fed meetings on mortgage rates.

A study reveals that homeowners refinancing their mortgages pay 37% more in lender fees compared to those purchasing a home. In 2024, typical refinancing costs averaged $3,100 per household after closing cost credits.

The FHFA is considering changes to loan level pricing adjustments (LLPAs), which influence mortgage rates based on borrower risk factors. These adjustments determine rates similar to how auto insurance rates are affected by driving history.

Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest level in 55 weeks, with the average for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage now at 6.19% nationwide, according to Freddie Mac's report.

The U.S. government shutdown is entering its third week, causing mortgage closings to be canceled as key economic data goes unreleased. The USDA has halted mortgage processing, further impacting the housing market and leading to a ripple effect on sales contracts.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have been labeled as risky, but any loan carries its own risks. In 16 of the last 22 years, homeowners with ARMs experienced lower payments after adjustments.

A study by Homebuyer.com reveals that Asian mortgage applicants paid the lowest average origination fees at 0.515%, compared to 0.813% for White applicants and higher for others. American Indian or Alaska Native applicants faced the highest fees in the analysis of HMDA data.

U.S. home prices declined for the second consecutive month in July, with the FHFA House Price Index dropping 0.1% after a 0.2% decrease in June. Regional variations were noted, with price drops in the South and Big Sky areas, while the West Coast and Ohio Valley experienced price increases.

The U.S. jobs report for September was not released due to a government shutdown, impacting the availability of essential employment data. Non-government sources indicate a loss of jobs, raising concerns about a potential recession and complicating the Federal Reserve's upcoming decision on interest rates.

Mortgage rates have historically dropped during government shutdowns, with a decrease of 10 basis points noted after the 2019 shutdown. The current shutdown has led to slight reductions in rates, but essential services for home buyers and sellers are affected.

Nine housing bills have been introduced in Congress this year aimed at supporting home buyers. These include a $15,000 tax credit for first-time home purchases and a provision allowing penalty-free withdrawals of $50,000 from retirement accounts for first-time buyers.

Representative Teresa Fernandez of New Mexico has introduced The Home of Your Own Act, which proposes a $30,000 cash grant for first-time home buyers. The grant can be used for closing costs, down payments, and home repairs, and it is tax-free.

Mortgage rates have dropped for nine consecutive weeks, marking the 17th longest streak in Freddie Mac's recorded data. The longest recorded streak lasted 31 weeks in 1982.

The Federal Reserve lowered the Fed Funds Rate by 0.25% after its two-day meeting. Following this decision, mortgage rates have fallen to a 51-week low, indicating Wall Street's concerns about a potential recession due to a weakening jobs market.

Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate has dropped to 6.26%, the lowest level since last October. This decline has led to a surge in refinancing applications, with 60% of current mortgage applications aimed at securing lower rates.

Paying discount points for lower mortgage rates may not be advisable when rates are falling. Last year, buyers averaged 0.936% in discount points, costing $936 per $100,000 borrowed, but points are sunk costs that are not recouped if refinancing occurs.

Last year, home buyers paid an average of 2.06% of their loan size in closing costs. Conventional loans had the lowest average closing costs at 1.54%, while FHA loans had the highest at 3.77%.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has dropped to 6.35%, the lowest level this year. Some lenders are offering rates in the 5s without discount points.

According to Fannie Mae's monthly housing report, 70% of respondents believe it is a bad time to buy a home. However, the same percentage indicated they would still choose to buy if they were to move right now, citing lower mortgage rates and increased inventory as factors.
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