homeowners

Mortgage rates in the United States have risen back to 7%, reviving questions about the direction of the housing market. The Wall Street Journal examines what higher borrowing costs mean for buyers, sellers and home prices. With affordability already stretched, analysts and homeowners are weighing whether rates will stay elevated or ease in the months ahead.

Realtor.com has updated its 2026 housing forecast, projecting that home price growth will cool further and trail the pace of inflation. That would mean houses gaining value more slowly than everyday costs rise, effectively a softening in real home prices. The outlook points to easing pressure for buyers, though existing owners may see wealth accumulation slow.

Hail is inflicting billions of dollars in damage across the United States each year, destroying crops, vehicles, roofs and other property, and climate conditions may be making severe hailstorms more frequent or intense. The report highlights how insurers and homeowners in hail-prone regions face mounting costs, prompting renewed debate over whether the phenomenon is worsening as the climate changes.

Fixed mortgage rates moved higher again as of Sunday, September 27, 2026, continuing an upward trend compared with the previous week. The update also covers refinance rates, giving borrowers a snapshot of current borrowing costs. Homeowners weighing a refinance and buyers planning a purchase are watching whether the climb continues or eases in the coming weeks.

Gilbert's housing market showed signs of cooling in August, with inventory rising and conditions shifting toward buyers. A local news report from the Phoenix-area town highlights the increase in available homes as the key driver of the softer market, a trend likely drawing attention from buyers, sellers and real estate watchers in the fast-growing Arizona suburb.

Homes across Ontario are taking months to sell instead of the days-long turnover that defined the province's recent housing booms. Local coverage highlights how prolonged listing times signal a shift in market conditions, with buyers gaining leverage and sellers facing longer waits for offers across communities from the Greater Toronto Area to smaller regional markets.

A UK solar panel owner wanted panels specifically designed to perform under the country's frequent overcast winter skies. Off-grid users advised that rather than hunting for specialised cloudy-weather panels, the better approach is to oversize the system, since all panels lose output in low light and extra capacity compensates for seasonal shortfalls.

Maryland lawmakers are considering giving local governments broader authority to raise taxes, a proposal that has drawn objections from housing advocacy groups. Critics warn the additional tax powers would increase costs for homeowners and price potential buyers out of the state's already tight housing market. Supporters of the measure argue localities need more fiscal flexibility to fund services, but opponents say affordability should take priority.