Author: Pam Lovett

Mortgage rates averaged near 7% by Sept. 24, the highest since Early-Q1 2025, squeezing affordability and raising capital costs for builders across the US.
Builder sentiment fell 3 points to 32 in Late-Q3, its lowest since Late-Q3 2025, as lending, labor, fuel and construction costs stayed elevated.
Single-family home building was on track for a second straight annual decline in 2026, and signs pointed to additional pullbacks in 2027.
The broader US market remained caught between limited supply and affordability constraints, with demand present but increasingly sidelined by higher costs and interest rates.
For 2027, rising long-term rates signaled broader economic caution as 2026 growth leaned heavily on AI, crowding out lending for housing nationwide.

AI valuation tools promised speed, efficiency, and lower costs, but accuracy still varies widely, especially when estimates replace on-the-ground judgment for pricing, lending, or taxes.
Free consumer tools offered quick ballpark values from public records, listings, and past sales, yet the estimates were not appraisals and could mislead owners.
Higher-end tools targeted lenders and investors through subscriptions, licensing, and per-report fees, while some platforms added forecasts, workflow automation, or human review for consistency.
Current concerns centered on algorithms learning biased historical patterns, potentially undervaluing some neighborhoods, affecting equity, refinancing, sales outcomes, and drawing growing regulatory scrutiny.
The clearest takeaway: use automated valuations as assistants, not final answers, and pair them with transparency, independent audits, and human expertise for major decisions.

Across the US, pending home sales edged ↑<1% MoM in the current month, while contract signings remained ↓~5% yearly, showing modest momentum but softer demand.
Buyers entering contracts even as mortgage rates increased, but higher borrowing costs offset buying power created by gains and income growth outpacing home prices.
Pending home sales based on signed purchase contracts for listed homes offer an early read on housing direction before transactions close and sales are recorded.
A mortgage survey put the current 30-yr fixed rate near 7%, slightly above the mid-6% level seen yearly, even after earlier lows.
Current cooler seasons typically bring fewer buyers, which can improve negotiating power, while warmer summer periods usually offer more available homes and broader selection.

Here's a quick look at the latest real estate activity in Hinesville, Georgia. Homes are selling at a similar pace as before. The number of available houses and completed sales remain consistent with recent months.

There’s no single way to measure housing inflation in the US, and that’s something I see play out with every family I help. Housing costs can mean so many things—rent, utilities, maintenance, purchase price, neighborhood feel, size, or even what it costs to build. For example, the most widely used consumer inflation index doesn’t even include home prices, so understanding what’s really happening often means looking at rent data alongside construction and other housing numbers.

Between early 2020 and early 2024, existing-home median prices in the US rose about 42%. That jump, driven by low supply and more people working from home, was felt in different ways by buyers, sellers, landlords, and renters. Maybe you’re a renter feeling the pinch of higher rent and utilities, or a seller who’s watched prices climb—or you might even be a landlord who faced new challenges during eviction moratoriums. The truth is, national averages only tell part of the story. Here in Hinesville, every neighborhood and property has its own unique rhythm. That’s why I always remind my clients: understanding local context matters so much more than any headline number.

The conversation around housing reform is heating up again, and I’m paying close attention—because these changes touch so many of my clients’ lives. Leaders from the banking, homebuilding, and government sectors recently pushed Congress for broader reforms, pointing out that even the new federal law left out some of the real barriers facing folks trying to buy a home. It’s striking to hear that a middle-income family now needs $124K to afford a home—double what was needed just five years ago. On top of that, 169 out of 390 metro areas still don’t have enough homes for the people who want to live there. Builders and advocates are also highlighting how federal sourcing rules and compliance fees tack on an extra $131K to the cost of building a new home, making things even tougher. I see the impact of these policies every day in Hinesville, where local politics, public-private partnerships, and streamlined regulations can make or break the dream of homeownership. After 26 years of helping first-time buyers, families, veterans, and seniors navigate these changes, I know how important it is to have someone on your side who truly understands the market—and the unique hurdles each buyer faces.