NYSEArca - Delayed Quote • USD SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) Follow 122.28 -0.26 (-0.21%) At close: December 3 at 4:00 PM EST 121.40 -0.88 (-0.72%) After hours: 7:30 PM EST All News Press Releases SEC Filings All SEC Filings Corporate Changes & Voting Matters Periodic Financial Reports Proxy Statements Tender Offer/Acquisition Reports Offering Registrations Mortgage rates tick slightly lower, 30-year remains above 6.8% Mortgage rates are holding nearly steady this week as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped from 6.84% the week prior to 6.81%, while the 15-year mortgage rate rose from 6.02% to 6.1%. Yahoo Finance senior housing reporter Dani Romero break down the latest mortgage rate reading, as reported by Freddie Mac, while weighing in on October's US pending home sales. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Top 3 reasons why people were moving to the South last year: NAR While the 30-year fixed mortgage rates tick closer to 7% in November, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Migration Trends report found 46% of US homebuyers to have migrated to the South last year. "That's really where they're finding more affordability opportunities, but also some of the strongest job markets. So they're really poised for long-term growth, as well," NAR Director of Business & Consumer Research Matt Christopherson tells Brad Smith on Wealth. Christopherson elaborates further on the report tracking 2023 patterns, which saw homebuyers placing a higher priority on living closer to family and friends: "People are really looking for ways to be able to get into this market and compete. They're also looking for lower and more favorable tax rates, especially to combat insurance costs that are really rising in the housing space. And a lot of that occurs in the South." To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Housing market growth in 2025 hinges on rates: Analyst US existing home sales increased 3.4% year-over-year in October, reaching 3.96 million units. HousingWire Lead Analyst Logan Mohtashami provides insights into the current housing market dynamics on Wealth! "Let's be realistic, last year at this time, mortgage rates ran up to 8%, [and] sales fell even more, so we have a very low bar right now to show year-over-year growth," Mohtashami explains. However, he adds "the positive story for housing in 2024 [is] inventory was able to grow, we have more choices for everybody. And if mortgage rates just get down to 6%, we can grow sales." Looking ahead to 2025, Mohtashami emphasizes that housing market expansion hinges on lower interest rates. Although, he notes that rates don't need to return to the historically low 3 to 5% range to stimulate sales activity. Freddie Mac reported mortgage reports to have climbed for their eighth consecutive week. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith Mortgage rates continue to climb for eighth straight week Mortgage rates edge even higher this week, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rising to 6.84% as reported by Freddie Mac. Yahoo Finance senior housing reporter Dani Romero joins Brad Smith on Wealth to expand upon what this rate environment, October's existing home sales growth, and potential Trump policies are indicating about US housing market activity. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. US homebuyers are coming off sidelines after 2024 election, Fed cuts Existing home sales rose by 3.4% in October, marking the first year-over-year gain since 2021 according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). To talk more about homebuying trends as mortgage rates remain elevated, Redfin head of economic research Chen Zhao and Kinloch Partners CEO Bruce McNeilage join Catalysts. Zhao explains how US homebuyers are now coming off the sidelines coming off the 2024 election and the Federal Reserve providing direction on its interest rate policy: "The number of people who are contacting Redfin agents for tours is up about 20% year over year right now, and it's at the highest level that it's been at since August of 2023." McNeilage goes on to comment on the interplay between rates on the housing market and the bond market (^TYX, ^TNX, ^FVX). He explains where homebuyers are running into key affordability issues: "The average house in America in the top 50 cities is about $414,000. So it's very tough to afford that when interest rates are going up. Now, if interest rates come down, you think you might be able to afford that $414,000. But the builders raised the price. And last year, the builders have raised the price on average 3%. You also have to look at taxes and insurance... [which] are not going down." To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Existing home sales rose 3.4% in October: NAR US existing home sales rose 3.4% year-over-over in October to 3.96 million, just slightly above economist expectations. Catalysts hosts Seana Smith and Madison Mills review the latest housing data, keying in on pricing and housing inventory trends reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Lowe's earnings and housing starts: US housing market's latest Home improvement retailer Lowe's (LOW) may have topped third quarter earnings estimates and raised full-year guidance, but its shares are taking a dip this session on its sales growth declines. Yahoo Finance senior housing reporter Dani Romero examines what Lowe's sales and interest rates are indicating about the home improvement industry. Romero goes on report October's US housing starts, which slipped to 1.31 million from the prior month. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Lowe's tops Q3 estimates and raises 2024 outlook Lowe's (LOW) reported third quarter earnings beating Wall Street estimates on both revenue and profits. Despite the home improvement retailer raising its 2024 outlook, shares fell by as much as 4% this morning.Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma joins Morning Brief co-hosts Seana Smith and Brad Smith to break down the results.While Lowe's faces affordability challenges due to inflation and higher mortgage rates, DiPalma notes the company is optimistic about a market recovery.To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here. This post was written by Cindy Mizaku. Mortgage rates still 'underlying' home affordability problems According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), homebuilder confidence stands at a reading of 46 in November, up 3 points from October's level. Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale joins Wealth to discuss the state of the housing market. Hale highlights a significant housing shortage, noting that the US housing market has been 2.5 million to 7 million homes short over the last decade. "We need to do a lot more building," she states. She anticipates potential relief within current building challenges like labor shortages, land constraints, and regulatory hurdles when the incoming Trump administration takes office. Regarding home affordability, Hale points out that builders are implementing strategies such as mortgage rate buydowns and various incentives to attract buyers. However, she names high mortgage rates as the "underlying" issue impacting housing affordability. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith Housing costs rise in October, mortgage applications also up October's Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that shelter prices rose 0.4% month-over-month and 4.9% year-over-year. Despite this, weekly mortgage applications rose for the first time in seven weeks. To unpack the factors contributing to shelter inflation, Wealth welcomes Yahoo Finance reporters Dani Romero and Claire Boston. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith How homebuilders are viewing inflation, tariff possibilities The October CPI (Consumer Price Index) print saw headline and core inflation rising in line with economist expectations. While materials costs and housing prices tick higher, what does this mean for homebuilders? The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) CEO Bill Darcy joins Seana Smith and Madison Mills on Catalysts to talk about the homebuilder sector's reaction to the current inflationary environment. "Our members are telling us 8% growth [in consumer spending] in 2025, compared to 1% only in 2024. So a lot of optimism... The home is really still the place where people focus their monies despite the inflation and uncertainties. It's really where they want to spend their money," Darcy explains. "And while new home construction has a big factor and... I think when rates get around 5%, you see more activity around new home construction and things like that." Home improvement retailer Home Depot (HD) beat its third quarter earnings estimates, seeing sales rise 6.6% annually to $40.2 billion. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Will Trump's deportation plans really boost the housing market? President-elect Donald Trump believes that his mass deportation plans will positively impact the housing market and lower home prices. But how true is this statement? To unpack this claim, Yahoo Finance housing reporters Dani Romero and Claire Boston join Wealth to discuss how migrant workers and immigration can actually benefit the construction industry and broader housing market dynamics. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith Housing affordability crisis: What caused it & how to fix it With the affordable housing crisis showing no signs of relief, Yahoo Finance's Julie Hyman sits down with the Vistria Group’s Senior Partner Margaret C. Anadu to talk about why affordable housing has eluded many Americans and how the issue can be fixed. "The secret sauce, if you will, in the real estate work that we do is partnering with government," says Anadu, speaking from the annual Yahoo Finance Invest conference. "So both at the federal level, state, and city level, we work with the public sector to identify the part of the spectrum where affordable housing is needed... We work with public sector to structure deals where we can put in term, long-term affordability agreements and structure that in a way where the investments are also profitable." Anadu also talks about how the affordable housing initiatives could be impacted by another Trump presidency. She also also details how the Vistria Group pursues purpose-driven investing and how that approach could evolve with President-elect Donald Trump's second term in office. "Woke or anti-woke, I don't know," Anadu responds. "I don't know that anyone, regardless of their political persuasion, would think that people being able to pay their rent is woke." For investors, Anadu also notes that the affordable housing space can be a good combination of investing sustainably in addition to seeing a return on your investment: "Whether someone is motivated by a personal passion around societal issues or really cares about the affordable housing crisis, it's just a space to invest where you can make strong returns." To see every interview from Yahoo Finance Invest, click here. This post was written by Daniel A. Nelson Home Depot raises full-year outlook after hurricane season Shares of Home Depot (HD) tick higher in Tuesday's pre-market trading after the company posted an earnings beat in the third quarter and raised its guidance for the full year. Home Depot saw $40.2 billion in sales in the quarter, a 6.6% increase year-over-year. The company's adjusted earnings per share came out to be $3.78 in the quarter. Home Depot CEO Ted Decker cited the warmer weather and active hurricane season in boosting its total sales, saying on the earnings call: “As weather normalized, we saw better engagement across seasonal goods and certain outdoor projects as well as incremental sales related to hurricane demand.” The DIY retailer's CFO Richard McPhail adding that while demand from contractors was higher in the quarter, homeowners are still waiting for lower interest rates to pursue larger remodeling projects. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Home Depot is expecting total revenue to rise 4%, up from a previous estimate between 2.5% and 3.5%. It is also anticipating a narrower decline in comparable store sales, down to 2.5% from its previous outlook of a 3 to 4% drop. To see every interview from Yahoo Finance Invest, click here. This post was written by Kayla Hawkins. Mortgage rates move higher for sixth consecutive week Mortgage rates are edging higher for their sixth consecutive week, according to Freddie Mac, with the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticking up to 6.79%. Yahoo Finance housing reporter Claire Boston sits down with Brad Smith on Wealth to dissect this new mortgage print ahead of today's interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve, referencing how the central bank and housing markets are viewing the environment under a second Donald Trump administration after his 2024 election victory. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Fully owned homes reach 39.8% nationwide in 2023: Census survey According to the latest data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), the share of mortgage-free homes in the United States reached 39.8% in 2023. Yahoo Finance Housing Reporter Dani Romero breaks down the details, highlighting the states where this trend is most prominent. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith How a Fed rate cut could fuel a home remodeling boom As the Federal Reserve's FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting approaches on Thursday, investors anticipate a potential interest rate cut. This could have significant implications for the home remodeling sector, which is expected to rise to $477 billion by 2025, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Angi co-founder Angie Hicks joins to discuss how a rate cut could boost the home remodeling space. Hicks notes that houses are the largest investment for most Americans, so "we need to make sure it fits our lifestyle." She explains that if rates were to come down, this would allow homeowners to tap into their home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to invest in remodeling their homes to better suit their needs and preferences. Hicks offers several tips for those considering a home remodeling project: "identify your budget" and understand how much you're comfortable spending, create a timeline to maximize the value of your investment, and make sure to hire trusted professionals to get the job done. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith These homebuilder stocks could outperform in a Harris win The 2024 US presidential election is underway as Americans across the nation cast their ballots for the 47th president of the United States. The SPDR Homebuilder ETF (XHB) is trading higher on Tuesday, with some market participants anticipating potential benefits for the homebuilder sector depending on the outcome. Yahoo Finance Housing Reporter Dani Romero dives into the details, highlighting how a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris could boost homebuilder stocks such as D.R. Horton (DHI) and Lennar (LEN). To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith 2024 election: Top portfolio plays for a Trump or Harris victory Top strategists weigh in on what a Trump versus Harris presidency means for investment portfolios. Mortgage rates move higher for fifth week: What to know For the fifth consecutive week, mortgage rates have moved even higher. According to the latest data out from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate now sits at 6.72%. Yahoo Finance housing reporter Claire Boston joins Brad Smith on Wealth to speak more the latest mortgage print and what recent inflation data is indicating about the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Performance Overview Trailing returns as of 12/2/2024. Category is Consumer Cyclical. Return XHB Category YTD +28.62% +9.99% 1-Year +44.26% +33.69% 3-Year +14.91% +0.34%