Author: Marisa Cain

US mortgage application volume stayed nearly flat recently, as steady borrowing costs gave both buyers and refinancers little fresh incentive to make a move.
Purchase activity led the slowdown, with applications ↓2% on a seasonally adjusted basis and ↓3% unadjusted from the previous reading across the US.
Refinance activity provided limited support, with the index ↑2% and the refinance share near 42%, while larger-balance borrowers remained less likely to act.
Affordability pressures and economic uncertainty pushed some buyers to delay decisions, although VA applications offered a modest bright spot as their share hit 12.6%.
Mortgage pricing changed little, and with the 30-yr conforming rate near 7% and no central bank rate cuts expected through 2026, patience remained key.

Across the US, rapid data center expansion is becoming a housing issue, not just a technology or energy story, as facilities reshape Real Estate questions.
The key pressures center on land, electricity, water and infrastructure, with new projects raising questions about utility bills, property values and local economic growth.
For housing professionals, the conversation includes pricing uncertainty for homes near new facilities and development collisions over where housing gets pushed next.
The US data center boom also affects homeowners, developers and communities, as massive projects compete for resources and alter the broader housing ecosystem.
What matters now is understanding ripple effects early, because data center growth is increasingly tied to housing decisions in the US communities involved.

Mortgage rates are now expected to remain elevated into 2027, meaning financing costs could continue influencing buyer decisions.
A slower decline in rates could keep demand below historical norms even if economic conditions improve.
Buyers may increasingly focus on rate buydowns, adjustable products, and other financing strategies to manage borrowing costs.
Home-price growth could remain moderate as high financing costs limit how aggressively buyers can bid.

Persistent inflation and elevated long-term Treasury yields are making a rapid return to low interest rates less certain.
The Federal Reserve faces competing pressures as policymakers balance inflation risks against signs of weakening economic momentum.
Higher long-term yields could keep borrowing costs elevated for consumers, businesses, housing, and commercial real estate.
Investors may increasingly favor a balanced approach as interest-rate uncertainty, fiscal pressures, and inflation continue influencing financial markets.

Here's a quick update on Bluffton, South Carolina's housing market. Homes are selling at a similar pace as last year. The number of properties available and sold has increased, giving buyers and sellers more options.