Housing News

In Case You Missed It: The Best Housing Stories of 2025

If you’ve been watching the housing market this year, you know 2025 has been full of some big real estate news.  

Perhaps the largest development of the year has been the decline in mortgage interest rates. After peaking in January at more than 7%, interest rates steadily retreated throughout the year, eventually falling to below 6.2%.

Every time that interest rates fall, it helps homebuyers and homeowners lower their monthly housing payments.

But that was hardly the only big story in housing this year. Below are some of the top stories from 2025.

1. These Are the 20 Happiest Cities in America. Do You Live in One?

If personal happiness and mental health are important to you, you may want to look into living in one of these cities scattered across America. Dive in to learn more about the top 20 happiest cities. Does yours make the list?

2. Homeowners Get the Most Joy from These Renovations. Can You Guess the Top Project?

Some remodeling projects provide more happiness, while others offer a higher return on investment. Whether you prefer a healthy ROI or you’re just hoping your home can spark more joy, let’s look at which renovations deliver and how you can pay for them.

3. Would 50-Year Mortgages Make Buying a Home More Affordable?

The 30-year mortgage has helped millions and millions of people buy a home since its inception in 1948. But could lengthier mortgages make it more affordable for many of today’s would-be homebuyers?

4. 18% Mortgage Rates?! Buying a Home Used to Be Even More Challenging

Did you know that in the early 1980s, mortgage rates were more than 18%?!? Yes, you read that correctly. It makes today’s rates in the low-6% range a little easier to stomach.

5. Homeowners, This Is How Much a Refinance Can Save You Every Time Rates Fall

If you already own a home, you may want to keep an eye out for falling mortgage interest rates. Even small declines in rates may lead to lower monthly housing payments. See just how much you could save.

6. How To Lower Your Mortgage Payments: Smart Moves That Can Save You Thousands

If you own a home and are looking for creative ways to cut costs, you may be able to save money on your mortgage payments. There are several ways you can lower your payments, leaving you with more money in your pocket.

7. Myth-Busting Cash-Out Refinances: What Homeowners Get Wrong

Cash-out refinances sometimes get a bad rap because of the misconceptions surrounding the mortgage. The reality is that a cash-out refi can help homeowners consolidate debt, fund major expenses, or pay for home repairs and improvements.

8. Top 20 Home Features That Help a Home Sell for Over the Asking Price

Traditionally, spring is when the housing market heats up as families look to buy a home and move before the next school year. That means that the temperature of the housing market is about to rise. If you’re considering selling, there are a number of things you can do to make your property more appealing.

9. Why Is This the Best State in America for the Third Year in a Row?

Forget coastal California, sunny Florida, and the bright lights of New York City. The best state in the U.S. is none of those. The winning state has a strong economy, high average income, and a low crime rate. So, which one is it?

10. What is a Portable Mortgage? Could It Make Buying a New Home More Affordable?

In today’s pricey housing market, the idea of portable mortgages is being floated as a way to bring housing costs down. If the loan was offered, it could potentially allow a homeowner who locked in a low mortgage interest rate to transfer that mortgage to the next home they purchase without losing their rate.