Homeowners are staying put the longest in 25 yrs

💓 It's Thursday, and love is in the air.

Today's newsletter is 617 words — a 2.5-minute read.

1. Foreclosure filings rise 32%

According to ATTOM’s latest foreclosure report, 40,534 U.S. properties had foreclosure filings in January, including default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. That figure was down 10% from December but up 32% from January 2025.

Foreclosure starts rose 26% year over year, while completed foreclosures increased 59%. Texas was among the states with the highest number of foreclosure starts, with 3,116.

2. Homeowners are staying put the longest in 25 yrs

According to new data from ATTOM, Americans who sold their homes in late 2025 had owned them for an average of 8.55 years, the longest stretch in at least 25 years. Back in 2000, the average tenure was just 4.2 years.

The trend is driven by the “lock-in effect,” as homeowners hold onto ultra-low pandemic-era mortgage rates. At the same time, tight inventory and high prices are making it more expensive to move.

In Texas, average homeownership tenure rose to 7.59 years, up 1.0% quarter over quarter and 2.9% year over year.

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3. Catch up quick

💕 Austin is among the best cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. (WalletHub)

🚀 The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January. (DOL)

💸 Buyers must earn $111,000 to afford a typical home. (Redfin)

📉 Sellers aged 70+ net lower returns on home sales. (RetirementResearch)

🎉 Compass names Neda Navab new president. (Compass)

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4. House approves new housing bill

The House of Representatives on Monday passed a major bill aimed at increasing housing affordability by giving builders and local governments incentives to ramp up construction and ease regulations around homebuilding.

Dubbed the Housing for the 21st Century Act, the legislation passed the House by a vote of 390–9 and tackles several key changes:

• Speeds up construction by cutting federal red tape and creating pre-approved building designs

• Updates FHA loan limits to match current construction costs

• Reforms local housing programs to better serve middle-income families

• Expands financing options for manufactured homes and small mortgages

• Protects veterans by excluding disability benefits from housing assistance income calculations

• Reduces regulatory burdens on community banks

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) applauded the House for passing the act, calling it a meaningful bipartisan step toward addressing America’s housing affordability crisis.

5. Buyers need to earn $35,000 more than renters to afford monthly payments

According to a new Redfin report, buyers need to earn $111,252 per year to afford a home priced at the median of $426,747. However, the median household income at the end of 2025 was just $86,000, a shortfall of $25,252.

Renters, on the other hand, need about $76,000 annually to afford the typical rental, roughly $35,000 less than what buyers need to purchase a home. While that’s still a significant gap, it’s the smallest it has been in three years.

In Texas, the buy-versus-rent affordability gap is shrinking in every major metro. Meanwhile, rental affordability is improving only in Austin and San Antonio.

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