MarketWatch: Weekly Real Estate Update for Riverdale, Bronx – 10/12/2026 – 10/19/2026

Did You Know?

* Surging mortgage rates are sending many buyers to the sidelines, while affluent shoppers are driving overall prices higher with big cash purchases….the housing market reflects a tale of two very different economic situations.  The top third of the market is still buying, and spending enough to push up home prices nationally by more than 4% over the past two years.  (ie: LUXE-flation) (WSJ)

* The single biggest tax benefit of buying timberland is that profits from harvesting and selling standing timber qualify for long-term capital gains tax treatment. Instead of being taxed at ordinary income rates (which can go up to 37%), qualified timber sales are taxed at much lower capital gains rates, typically 15% to 20%, provided you have held the asset for more than one year. Lumber prices are down over 19% in the past 3 months…..this may help fuel construction.

Mortgage Rate Updates:

The US 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.4% as of October 15th, 2026, remaining above 7% and at its highest level since November 2023 and remaning unchanged from the previous week. This marks the eighth consecutive week without a decline. A year ago, the the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.27%. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.71%, down from an over two year high of 6.73% reached last week.

Source: Freddie Mac