0959 ET - New listings of U.S. homes for sale rose about 1% from a year earlier during the four weeks ending Jan. 25, Redfin says, the first increase in more than two months. That's because homebuying demand is improving. U.S. pending home sales fell 1.6% year over year, the smallest decline in nearly two months, and mortgage-purchase applications are sitting near their highest level in three years. Some house hunters are coming out of the woodwork because housing costs are declining--the median monthly housing payment is down 6.6% from a year ago. Mortgage rates are also lower. The weekly average mortgage rate is 6.09%, near the lowest level in three years. Homes are still taking longer to sell. House hunters are able to take their time because it's a buyer's market, with hundreds of thousands more home sellers than buyers. (chris.wack@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 29, 2026 09:59 ET (14:59 GMT)

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