Housing Week Ahead: August Inventory Data, Mortgage Rates, and Jobs Report

As we head into a lighter week for economic releases, the Realtor.com economic research team is tracking critical data points to gauge the direction of the late-summer housing market.The week kicks off on Monday as senior economist Joel Berner releases his annual report on the Top Metros for New Construction, which tracks the best markets for homebuyers interested in newly built homes.On Wednesday, senior economist Jake Krimmel releases the August Monthly Housing Report, providing a clear snapshot of inventory, pricing, and national market dynamics. On Thursday, senior economist Hannah Jones will break down real-time supply and demand shifts in our latest Weekly Housing Data.Thursday also brings the Freddie Mac mortgage rate update, analyzed by senior economist Jiayi Xu.Mortgage rates have remained relatively flat recently near their current average of 6.66%, with the ongoing conflict in Iran serving as a primary driver of rate movement. While we forecast little relief on rates in the short term, a sustained resolution in geopolitical tensions remains the clearest path toward a lower rate environment.Finally, on Friday, Krimmel returns to unpack the labor market's overall health wi...