Skip to navigationSkip to main content':"";if(r){var a=n.promos.showYahooLogo?"":"yns-no-logo";r=r.replace("{notifOnboardBtnLabel}",n.promos.notifOnboardBtnLabel).replace("{notifOnboardMsg}",n.promos.notifOnboardMsg).replace("{subscriptionTopic}",n.promos.subscriptionTopic).replace("{noLogoClass}",a).replace("{promoLogo}",n.promos.promoLogo)}var s=t.newCount>n.panel.maxCount?t.newCount:"",c=n.panel.notificationCenterPath,l=c?"":R,u=n.panel.headerMsg?"":" "+R,d=c?U:"",p=void 0;t.count?p=t.markup:p='{emptyPanelMsg}'.replace("{emptyPanelMsg}",n.panel.emptyPanelMsg);return e=e.replace("{notifMarkup}",p).replace("{promoMarkup}",r).replace("{hideClass}",l).replace("{notifCenterLink}",c).replace("{paddingClass}",d).replace("{headerMsg}",n.panel.headerMsg).replace("{hideHeaderClass}",u).replace(/{notificationCenterNavMsg}/g,n.panel.notificationCenterNavMsg).replace(/{newCount}/g,s)}},{key:"render",value:function(e,t){var n=this;if(n._panelNode){var o=void 0,i=n._panelNode,r=void 0,a=void 0;switch(e){case"expanded_panel":o='{promoMarkup}{notifMarkup}',a=n._store.getNotifications(),r=n._generatePanelMarkup(o,a),i.innerHTML=r;break;case"error_panel":r=(o='{errorMsg}').replace("{errorMsg}",n._config.panel.errorMsg),i.innerHTML=r}t&&t()}else t&&t(new Error("No panel parent"))}},{key:"createPanelParentNode",value:function(e){e&&(e.innerHTML='',this._panelNode=document.getElementById(P))}},{key:"updateBadgeNode",value:function(e){if(e){var t=this._store.getNotifications().newCount,n=this._config.badge.maxCount;if(t){var o=t>n?n+"+":t;e.innerHTML=o}else e.innerHTML=""}}},{key:"addStyles",value:function(e){if(e&&"undefined"!=typeof window){var t=document.getElementById(this._config.panel.styleTagId);t||((t=document.createElement("style")).type="text/css",t.id=this._config.panel.styleTagId,t.innerText=e,document.head.appendChild(t))}}}]),e}(),j=function(){function e(t,n,o){E(this,e);var i=this;i._store=n,i._view=o,i._config=t;var r=i._config.panel;i._panelParentNode=document.querySelector(r.parentSelector),i._badgeNode=i._config.badge.selector&&document.querySelector(i._config.badge.selector),i._indicatorNode=r.indicatorSelector&&document.querySelector(r.indicatorSelector)}return C(e,[{key:"createPanelParentNode",value:function(){this._view.createPanelParentNode(this._panelParentNode),this._notifPanelNode=document.getElementById(P)}},{key:"refreshPanelNode",value:function(e,t){var n=this;M(n._notifPanelNode,B),n._store.fetchNotifications(e,(function(e,o){var i=window.wafer&&window.wafer.base;i&&i.destroy(n._notifPanelNode),e?n._notifPanelNode.innerHTML||(n._view.render("error_panel"),M(n._notifPanelNode,B)):(n._view.render("expanded_panel"),n._view.updateBadgeNode(n._badgeNode),n._showBadge(),n._showIndicator(),n._view.addStyles(o.css)),I(n._notifPanelNode,B),i&&i.sync(n._notifPanelNode.parentNode),t&&t(e,o)}))}},{key:"resetBadge",value:function(){var e=this;e._store.resetNewCount(),e._view.updateBadgeNode(e._badgeNode),M(e._badgeNode,e._config.badge.hideClass)}},{key:"_showIndicator",value:function(){this._indicatorNode&&(this._store.getNotifications().newCount?M(this._indicatorNode,this._config.panel.indicatorClass):I(this._indicatorNode,this._config.panel.indicatorClass))}},{key:"_showBadge",value:function(){var e=this;e._store.getNotifications().newCount?I(e._badgeNode,e._config.badge.hideClass):M(e._badgeNode,e._config.badge.hideClass)}}]),e}(),F={promos:{eligibleBodyClass:"display-push-promos",enableNotifOnboard:!0,bypassEligibleClassCheck:!1,notifOnboardBtnLabel:"Notify Me",notifOnboardMsg:"Get alerts for breaking news and top stories",promoLogo:"https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/ae/news/circle_bell.png",showYahooLogo:!0,subscriptionTopic:"gondor_homerun_news"},badge:{hideClass:"",maxCount:5,selector:""},panel:{emptyPanelMsg:"You have no new notifications.",errorMsg:"",headerMsg:"Notifications",imageTag:"img:40x40|2|80",indicatorClass:"yns-indicator",indicatorSelector:null,maxCount:6,notificationCenterNavMsg:"View all {newCount} notifications",notificationCenterPath:"",notificationTypes:"",parentSelector:null,styleTagId:"notificationStyles",theme:"default"},service:{attemptCount:1,attemptDelay:2,url:null,resetUrl:null,isRMP:!1,responseType:"json",timeout:1500}},Y={NotificationClient:function(){function e(t){E(this,e);var n=this;n.config=n._parseConfig(t),n._validateRequiredConfigs()&&(n._request=new S(n.config),n._store=new O(n.config,n._request),n._view=new H(n.config,n._store),n._panelController=new j(n.config,n._store,n._view),n._panelController.createPanelParentNode(),n._assignHelperMethods())}return C(e,[{key:"_parseConfig",value:function(e){var t={};for(var n in N(t,F),t)if(t.hasOwnProperty(n)){var o=t[n],i=e[n];"object"===(void 0===o?"undefined":L(o))?N(o,i):t[n]=e[n]}return t}},{key:"_validateRequiredConfigs",value:function(){var e=this.config;return!(!e.panel.parentSelector||!e.service.url)}},{key:"_assignHelperMethods",value:function(){var e=this;e.helpers={refreshPanelNode:e._panelController.refreshPanelNode.bind(e._panelController),resetBadge:e._panelController.resetBadge.bind(e._panelController),resetIndicator:function(){I(e._panelController._indicatorNode,e.config.panel.indicatorClass)}}}}]),e}()},z="lnct",G=function(){function e(){var e,t;this.personalized=!1,this.ybarElem=document.getElementById("ybar"),this.partnerClasses=null===(t=null===(e=this.ybarElem)||void 0===e?void 0:e.className)||void 0===t?void 0:t.match(/ybar-variant-([a-z]*)/),this.client=new Y.NotificationClient(this.getConfig())}return e.prototype.refreshPanel=function(){var e,t,n,o=this,i={lastUpdate:this.getTimeStamp()||this.setTimeStamp(),loadInHpViewer:!0,includePersonalized:this.personalized},r=(null===(e=window.YAHOO)||void 0===e?void 0:e.context)||(null===(t=window.Af)||void 0===t?void 0:t.context)||{};return r.region&&r.lang&&(i.lang=r.lang,i.region=r.region),(null===(n=this.partnerClasses)||void 0===n?void 0:n.length)&&(i.partner=this.partnerClasses[1]),new Promise((function(e,t){o.client.helpers.refreshPanelNode({matrixParams:i},(function(n,o){n&&(l("Notification refresh error:",n),t(n)),e(o)}))}))},e.prototype.resetBadge=function(){this.client.helpers.resetBadge(),this.setTimeStamp()},e.prototype.getConfig=function(){var e,t,n,o,i,r=document.getElementById("notification-container"),a=null===(e=null==r?void 0:r.dataset)||void 0===e?void 0:e.config;if(D&&!a)return D;var s={promos:{eligibleBodyClass:"display-push-promos",enableNotifOnboard:!0},badge:{selector:"#notif-badge",hideClass:"ybar-notification-hidden"},panel:{emptyPanelMsg:"You have no new notifications.",errorMsg:"Please check back later.",headerMsg:"Notifications",maxCount:5,parentSelector:"#ybarNotificationBody",notificationTypes:"breakingNews"},service:{url:"/tdv2_fp/api/resource/NotificationHistory.getHistory",isRMP:!1}},c={};if(a){"att"===(null===(t=this.partnerClasses)||void 0===t?void 0:t[1])&&(s.promos.showYahooLogo=!1);try{var u=JSON.parse(a);c=m({},u),this.personalized=1===u.personalize}catch(e){l("Notifications config parsing error",e)}r&&delete r.dataset.config}return D=this.mergeConfigs(s,c),(null===(n=this.partnerClasses)||void 0===n?void 0:n.length)&&"yahoo"!==(null===(o=this.partnerClasses)||void 0===o?void 0:o[1])&&(null===(i=D.promos)||void 0===i?void 0:i.subscriptionTopic)&&delete D.promos.subscriptionTopic,D},e.prototype.mergeConfigs=function(e,t){var n=m({},e);for(var o in e)n[o]=m(m({},e[o]),t[o]);return n},e.prototype.getTimeStamp=function(){var e;return null===(e=window.localStorage)||void 0===e?void 0:e.getItem(z)},e.prototype.setTimeStamp=function(){var e,t=""+Math.floor((new Date).getTime()/1e3);return null===(e=window.localStorage)||void 0===e||e.setItem(z,t),t},e}(),V=new G,W=function(){return V},K="",J=[],$=function(){},X=function(){window.removeEventListener("beforeunload",X),""!==K&&l("Rapid not found on page",new Error(K))},Z=null,Q=function(){return null===Z&&(Z=document.getElementById("ybar")),Z},ee=function(){var e=0,t=window.YAHOO;if(T)return T;if(t)if(t.i13n)if(t.i13n.__RAPID_INSTANCES__)if(t.i13n.__RAPID_INSTANCES__.length0)for(var n=0;n0){if(T.addModules(i,!1,o),J.length>0)for(e=0;e40959)&&(i19903)&&(i55215))return!1}return!0},ve={navBeaconFired:!1},he=["ready","navigation"],ye=function(){function e(e){var t=this;this.triggerEvent=s,this.addEventListener=c,this.logError=l,this.logPerformance=u,this.getConfig=d,this.getPerformanceMetrics=p,this.rapidRefresh=ne,this.state=m({},ve),this.modules=e,this.userEmail="",window.YBAR&&(he.forEach((function(e){var n="on".concat(e),o=window.YBAR[n];o&&(t[n]=o)})),window.YBAR.wssid&&(this.wssid=window.YBAR.wssid),window.YBAR.appid&&(this.appid=window.YBAR.appid)),he.forEach((function(e){var n="on".concat(e);c(e,(function(){for(var o,i=[],r=0;r0){if(o&&i){var n=t>99;o.classList.add("".concat(At)),i.classList.add("count-loaded"),o.textContent=n?"99+":t+"",n?o.classList.add("".concat(kt)):t>=10&&o.classList.add("".concat(St))}e.onDestroy((function(){o&&(o.textContent="")}))}})).catch((function(){}))}(e,s)}));var Ht="_yb_1e46uhr",jt=function(e,t){var n;t.logoImages&&(n=t.logoImages).length>0&&Array.prototype.forEach.call(n,(function(e){e.onerror=function(){e.onerror=null,e.style.display="none"}})),t.wrapper&&(function(e,t){e&&(Me("#ybar-logo","#ybar-logo",t),t.onDestroy((function(){e.classList.remove("ybar-show-outline"),e.classList.remove("ybar-hide-outline")})))}(t.wrapper,e),function(e,t){t&&e.addElementListener(t,"click",(function(){e.triggerEvent("logo-click")}))}(e,t.wrapper))};ge("ybar-mod-logo",(function(e){var t={wrapper:document.getElementById("ybar-logo"),logoImages:document.querySelectorAll(".".concat(Ht))};jt(e,t)}));var Ft={"dropdown-open":"_yb_1qr55t8","merchant-is-selected":"_yb_hpfgev",overlay:"_yb_1t4opbo","selected-merchant-clear-button":"_yb_sdzekv","shops-buttons":"_yb_1gmhi8h","styled-select":"_yb_1fed2vs",tooltip:"_yb_156j5sr","tooltip--show":"_yb_t94u7s",tooltip__text:"_yb_149d3c6",tooltip__voice:"_yb_rkldcd",tooltip__web:"_yb_1bze76z",dark:"_yb_of9a42",darker:"_yb_1br2rz9",light:"_yb_p0373k","search-border-gradient":"_yb_109k2ga","search-border-gradient-hover":"_yb_vljmzl",midnight60:"_yb_1o792pg","search-input-uh3-hover":"_yb_15ox84z","search-input-uh3-focus-visible":"_yb_1e6541m","sa-btn-bar":"_yb_1axm66t","searchbox-icon-uh3":"_yb_1uef33k",empty:"_yb_owcm9n"},Yt=function(e,t){var n=Math.max(e,t),o=Math.min(e,t),i=Math.abs(n-o);return b([],y(new Array(i+1)),!1).map((function(e,t){return o+t}))},zt=function(e,t,n){var o=e.getConfig().bucketConfig,i=(void 0===o?{}:o).enable_search_ui,r=void 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n=e.getConfig();if("smartphone"===n.device){if("finance"===n.property&&"crunch"===n.ytheme&&e.addElementListener(t.searchInput,"click",(function(){var n,o;n="search_input_focus_click",null!==(o=ae())&&(oe[n]||(oe[n]=o)),e.addElementListener(t.searchForm,"click",(function(){if(t.ybar){if(t.ybar.classList.contains("ybar-searchbox-assist-fullscreen"))return;t.ybar.classList.add("ybar-searchbox-assist-fullscreen"),t.ybar.classList.add("ybar-searchbox-assist-fadein")}if(!document.documentElement.classList.contains("ybar-overlay")){document.documentElement.classList.toggle("ybar-overlay"),document.body.classList.add("ybar-overlay-noscroll");te("ybar","websrch","",{elm:"expand",subsec:"searchbox",itc:"1"})}}))})),e.addElementListener(t.searchBoxPlaceholder,"click",(function(){zt(e,t)})),e.addElementListener(t.searchBoxPlaceholder,"keydown",(function(n){var o=n,i=o.keyCode,r=o.key,a=Yt(65,90),s=b(b([],y(Yt(58,57)),!1),y(Yt(96,105)),!1),c=b(b([],y(a),!1),y(s),!1).includes(i);(32===i||13===i||c)&&(n.preventDefault(),n.stopPropagation(),zt(e,t,c?r:""))})),t.searchBoxBackButton&&(e.addElementListener(t.searchBoxBackButton,"click",(function(e){e.stopPropagation(),window.YAHOO&&window.YAHOO.SA&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0]&&(window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0].view.resetQuery(),window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0].view.hide()),Gt(t);te("ybar","back-close-srch","",{elm:"btn",subsec:"searchbox",itc:"1"})})),e.addElementListener(t.searchInput,"keyup",(function(e){e.stopPropagation();27===e.keyCode&&(e.stopPropagation(),Gt(t))}))),e.addEventListener("viewerClosed",(function(){Gt(t)})),window.self!==window.top&&t.ybar&&t.searchForm)t.searchForm.setAttribute("target","_top"),document.querySelectorAll("#ybar a").forEach((function(e){e.setAttribute("target","_top")}));e.onDestroy((function(){Gt(t)}))}},Wt=function(){function e(e,t,n){t&&(this.ybar=e,this.elem=t,this.options=n,this.show=this.show.bind(this),this.hide=this.hide.bind(this),this.addEventListeners())}return Object.defineProperty(e.prototype,"tooltip",{get:function(){var e=this;return this.tooltipMarkup||(this.tooltipMarkup=this.createTooltip(),(this.options.tooltipParentElm||this.elem).appendChild(this.tooltipMarkup),this.ybar.onDestroy((function(){var t,n;null===(n=null===(t=e.tooltipMarkup)||void 0===t?void 0:t.parentNode)||void 0===n||n.removeChild(e.tooltipMarkup)}))),this.tooltipMarkup},enumerable:!1,configurable:!0}),e.prototype.show=function(){this.tooltip.classList.add(this.options.showClass)},e.prototype.hide=function(){this.tooltip.classList.remove(this.options.showClass)},e.prototype.addEventListeners=function(){this.ybar.addElementListener(this.elem,"mouseenter",this.show),this.ybar.addElementListener(this.elem,"focus",this.show),this.ybar.addElementListener(this.elem,"mouseleave",this.hide),this.ybar.addElementListener(this.elem,"blur",this.hide)},e.prototype.createTooltip=function(){var e=document.createElement("div");e.className=this.options.containerClass||"";var t=document.createElement("p");return t.textContent=this.options.label,t.className=this.options.textClass||"",e.appendChild(t),e},e}(),Kt={containerClass:Ft.tooltip,textClass:Ft.tooltip__text,showClass:Ft["tooltip--show"]};ge("ybar-mod-searchbox",(function(e){var t,n=e.getConfig(),o={ybar:document.getElementById("ybar"),searchInput:document.getElementById("ybar-sbq"),buttonBar:document.querySelector(".".concat(Ft["sa-btn-bar"])),searchForm:document.getElementById("ybar-sf"),searchBoxIcon:document.querySelector(".".concat(Ft["searchbox-icon-uh3"])),searchBoxPlaceholder:document.getElementById("ybar-smartphone-searchbox-placeholder"),searchBoxBackButton:document.getElementById("ybar-search-back-btn"),shopsButtonsWrap:document.querySelector(".".concat(Ft["shops-buttons"])),categorySelect:document.getElementById("shops-category-select"),selectedMerchantInput:document.getElementById("selected-merchant-input"),selectedMerchantClearButton:document.querySelector(".".concat(Ft["selected-merchant-clear-button"])),submitSearchBtn:document.getElementById("ybar-search"),clearSearchBtn:document.getElementById("ybar-sbq-x"),searchGradientBorder:document.querySelector(".".concat(Ft["search-border-gradient"]))};if(function(e,t){var n,o,i,r=e.getConfig();if(t.ybar&&["desktop","tablet"].includes(r.device)&&(null===(n=r.bucketConfig)||void 0===n?void 0:n.highlight_searchassist)&&(null===(o=r.bucketConfig)||void 0===o?void 0:o.overlay_class)){t.ybar.setAttribute("data-ovrly-bkt",r.bucketConfig.overlay_class),null===(i=t.searchForm)||void 0===i||i.classList.add(Ft[r.bucketConfig.overlay_class]);var a=document.createElement("div");a.classList.add(Ft.overlay,Ft[r.bucketConfig.overlay_class]),document.body.appendChild(a),e.onDestroy((function(){document.body.removeChild(a)})),e.addElementListener(t.searchForm,"focusout",(function(e){if(t.searchForm&&t.searchInput){var n=e.relatedTarget;n&&!t.searchForm.contains(n)&&window.YAHOO.SA&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0]&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0].view.shown&&window.YAHOO.SA.apps[0].view.hide()}}))}}(e,o),Vt(e,o),o.searchGradientBorder){var i=!1;o.searchInput.addEventListener("keydown",(function(e){var t=e.code,n=e.key,r=t.startsWith("Key"),a=t.startsWith("Digit"),s=/^[!@#$%^&*()_+\-=[\]{};':"\\|,./?`~]$/.test(n);(r||a||s)&&!i&&(o.searchGradientBorder.classList.add("".concat(Ft["search-border-gradient-hover"])),i=!0)})),e.addElementListener(o.searchForm,"mouseover",(function(){i||o.searchGradientBorder.classList.add("".concat(Ft["search-border-gradient-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.searchForm,"mouseout",(function(){i||o.searchGradientBorder.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-border-gradient-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.searchInput,"click",(function(){i=!0})),e.addElementListener(o.searchInput,"blur",(function(){o.searchGradientBorder.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-border-gradient-hover"]))}))}o.searchForm&&(e.addElementListener(o.searchBoxIcon,"mouseover",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.add("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.searchBoxIcon,"mouseout",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.buttonBar,"mouseover",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.add("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.buttonBar,"mouseout",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-hover"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.searchInput,"keyup",(function(e){"Tab"===e.key&&o.searchForm.classList.add("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-focus-visible"])),o.searchInput.classList.toggle("".concat(Ft.empty),""===o.searchInput.value)})),e.addElementListener(o.searchInput,"keydown",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-focus-visible"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.searchInput,"focusout",(function(){o.searchForm.classList.remove("".concat(Ft["search-input-uh3-focus-visible"]))})),e.addElementListener(o.submitSearchBtn,"click",(function(e){""===o.searchInput.value.trim()&&e.preventDefault()})),e.addElementListener(o.clearSearchBtn,"click",(function(){o.searchInput.classList.add("".concat(Ft.empty))}))),o.submitSearchBtn&&"crunch"===n.ytheme&&new Wt(e,o.submitSearchBtn,m(m({},Kt),{label:null!==(t=n.i18n.root.SEARCH_TOOLTIP_WEB)&&void 0!==t?t:"Search the web",containerClass:"".concat(Ft.tooltip," ").concat(Ft.tooltip__web),tooltipParentElm:o.clearSearchBtn.parentElement}))}));var Jt="_yb_tdk4ba",$t="_yb_hkd17a",Xt="_yb_rtzclf",Zt="_yb_tdbhj6",Qt="_yb_de52ef",en="_yb_9hwrey",tn="_yb_slc8ta",nn="_yb_bf0svp",on="_yb_hjic9z";ge("ybar-mod-adaptivenav",(function(e){var t=document.querySelector("#ybar-l1-more-menu ul"),n={moreDropDown:document.querySelector(".".concat(Jt)),moreBtn:document.querySelector(".".concat($t)),wrap:document.querySelector(".".concat(Zt)),moreSectionTitle:document.querySelectorAll(".".concat(Qt)),editionsCtaBtn:document.querySelector(".".concat(en)),editionsMenu:document.querySelector(".".concat(tn)),closeBtn:document.querySelector(".".concat(nn)),moreMenuDropDownHeight:t?"".concat(t.offsetHeight+48,"px"):"0"};new 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See our Advertiser Disclosure.Hal Bundrick, CFP® · Senior WriterUpdated Wed, March 18, 2026 at 7:15 PM GMT+1 9 min read2026 has begun with a roller coaster of home-buying signals. Mortgage rates fell to three-year lows, then rose with oil prices at the beginning of the Middle East war. However, home prices are moderating, sellers are reducing their listing prices, and houses are staying on the market for longer.Given the factors in the 2026 housing market, is this a good time to buy a house?MORE: See our top picks for mortgage lenders for low or no down payments.Good news for anyone looking to buy a house soon: There are signs of improvement. According to the Realtor.com February 2026 Housing Market Trends Report, there are indications that the real estate market has become more balanced since this time last year.More homes are on the market overall. Active listings have increased by 7.9% since February 2025. That’s 28 months in a row for listings growth. The annual increase in inventory means you have more options than this time last year.In February, the national average of homes with price reductions was 15.5%. However, 2026 may see more sellers begin with lower beginning list prices, “rather than cutting after seeing their home sit for longer than anticipated,” the Realtor.com analysis noted.The median number of days homes were on the market rose to 70 days in February. That's four days longer than this time last year. The longer listings remain active, the more choice buyers have. The increased time on the market is likely triggering those seller discounts we mentioned above too.According to Freddie Mac, the highest rate in 2025 was 7.04%. They’ve been hovering in the low-6% range lately, and the average 30-year fixed rate is currently 6.11%. While that may still feel high compared to 2020 and 2021 rates, take comfort in knowing that it’s just above the lowest 30-year rate in over three years. (The lowest was in late February at 5.98%.)At its March 18 meeting, the Federal Reserve announced another hold on further rate cuts. However, mortgage rates closely track the 10-year Treasury yield rather than the fed funds rate.To navigate today's mortgage rates, consider:More than half of home loan borrowers (56%) only get a preapproval from one lender. That reduces your bargaining power and limits the opportunity to find a better interest rate from a more business-hungry lender. Zillow research says that 45% of first-time home buyers who shopped with multiple mortgage lenders got a better rate.Putting down a larger down payment can earn you a better mortgage rate.Some buyers get below-market mortgage rates by negotiating a buydown or special financing from a seller or builder.Take action: Use a mortgage calculator to determine the monthly payment you can afford. You can then learn the home price, down payment, credit score, type of home loan, and mortgage interest rate to meet your home-buying goal.This embedded content is not available in your region.Learn how to get the lowest mortgage rates.New home construction remains a persistent issue. Builder confidence fell to begin the year, as rising construction costs persist. National Association of Home Builders chairman Buddy Hughes said that, despite lower mortgage rates, affordability remains a barrier for buyers.“While the upper end of the housing market is holding steady, affordability conditions are taking a toll on the lower and mid-range sectors. Buyers are concerned about high home prices and mortgage rates, with downpayments particularly challenging given elevated price-to-income ratios,” Hughes said in a release.Zillow predicts the slowest year for single-family construction since 2019, due to a large inventory of new homes already built and more underway.Take action: If the area you love is too expensive, consider expanding your search to more affordable areas near your favorite neighborhood.How much house can I afford? Use the Yahoo Finance affordability calculator.To answer the question of whether it's a good time to buy a house for you personally, you must look beyond broad market forces. Buying a home is more than considering macroeconomic factors. It's an important life decision based on your personal and financial situation.When you rent, the decision to move is broken down into six months, or a year or two at a time, as your lease renews. But every dollar-related detail makes a home purchase a medium- to long-term investment. Buying a house includes various costs: the down payment, closing costs, and financing fees, moving expenses, property taxes, and perhaps selling the house you're in now.Homeownership requires a long timeline. How you make a living, your friends, family, and even community amenities all come into play.A primary consideration: your job. Will it require a location change anytime soon, or can you live where you please? Is your income steady and all but assured?One of the significant factors that will qualify you for a home loan is your credit score. It's important to know it before applying for a mortgage.For the most common loan, a conventional mortgage not backed by a government agency, you generally need a FICO Score of 620 or better.FHA loans can allow a credit score as low as 580 with 3.5% down. VA loans issued to qualified military service members and veterans don't officially have a minimum credit score, though some lenders will require a FICO Score of 620.Of course, minimum credit scores are the entry-level to qualifying; the higher your score, the better the loan terms you'll be offered. Most importantly, that can mean you'll pay a lower annual percentage rate over the life of the loan. You may also have more room to negotiate on fees.As a benchmark to where you stand, the median credit score on a new mortgage in the third quarter of 2025 was 770, according to the New York Federal Reserve.See the average mortgage rate by credit score.A primary financial metric lenders will use to determine your creditworthiness is your debt-to-income ratio.Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored entity that provides liquidity to the home loan market, looks for a maximum total DTI ratio of 36% of "the borrower’s stable monthly income." Exceptions can allow for total DTIs up to 50%, but it's usually best to avoid working on the edges of qualification if you can.You can calculate your DTI by dividing your total recurring monthly debt by your gross (before taxes and other deductions) monthly income.Include debt such as monthly mortgage payments (or rent), real estate taxes, and homeowners insurance. Also, include any car payments, student loans, and the minimum monthly payment due on credit cards. Remember any personal loan payments, child support, or alimony.Do not include debt such as monthly utilities — like electricity, water, garbage, or gas bills — or car insurance, television streaming subscriptions, or cell phone bills. You can also exclude health insurance costs and miscellaneous expenses such as groceries or entertainment.Having a cash cushion in the form of emergency savings shows lenders that you are prepared for the unexpected. Of course, that savings account should also include …A large chunk of your savings account should be dedicated to the down payment. A minimum down payment of 3% is required to qualify for a conventional loan targeted at first-time home buyers — or ideally, 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance. Yes, zero-down options exist if you are eligible for a VA- or USDA-backed loan.According to Realtor.com, the average down payment in the third quarter of 2025 was 14.4%, or $30,400.Buy smart and shop a lot. Relentlessly shop interest rates and mortgage lenders for the best loan offers and justified fees. Get a written preapproval from your lender, then shop for a house you can love and can afford. Your home buying competition is.According to Zillow, when it comes to first-time buyers versus repeat buyers, first-timers are more likely to reach out to at least three lenders and three real estate agents.MORE: Learn about the best mortgage lenders for first-time home buyers.Mortgage rates tend to fall during economic downturns, so a recession would definitely qualify as a time when rates would likely drop. However, lower rates generally increase demand as more buyers enter the market, so house prices would likely rise. Buying a house at a time when both mortgage rates and home prices are favorable is a challenge. You probably shouldn’t try to time the housing market by waiting for a recession. Buy when it makes sense for you personally.There are pros and cons to buying in today's housing market. For example, home prices are cooling off, but sales prices remain unaffordable for individuals who have experienced recent job losses or furloughs. Deciding whether it's a "smart" time to buy a house is less about timing the real estate market and more about evaluating your financial situation. Can you comfortably afford the down payment, closing costs, and monthly mortgage payment? Do you expect to stay in the home long enough to recoup the money you pay up front? Then it could be a smart time for you to buy a home.Locking in a mortgage rate is a short-term decision, generally lasting only 30 to 60 days — sometimes up to six months. There's little reason to agonize over it. Be comfortable with the rate on your Loan Estimate and start packing boxes.Homes become more affordable as your income and savings grow. Ask any homeowner: Buying that first house was a stretch. The monthly payment loomed large. As months and years go by, it becomes less of an issue. Then, as home prices continue to rise, you're on the right side of the equation: The growing home equity builds your net worth.Laura Grace Tarpley edited this article.