March 2026 Jobs Report: Payrolls Rebounded, but the Labor Market Still Looks Stalled. Downward revisions reinforce downside risk for housing in 2026
What happened: The U.S. economy added 178,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in March, a rebound from February’s revised -133,000 decline. But the headline gain does not change the broader story: the labor market still looks weak and stalled beneath the surface. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also revis
Zillow’s Best Markets for First-Time Home Buyers in 2026
Key findings: Zillow identified the best markets for first-time buyers among the nation’s 50 largest metros by analyzing rent affordability, the share of affordable for-sale listings and proxies for competition among other buyers. Jacksonville ranks No. 1 for first-time home buyers in 2026, followe
Mortgage rates in the mid-6% range
In short: Mortgage rates are fluctuating in the mid-6% range, after falling below 6% weeks prior. The bulk of home activity typically happens between March and October, such that the longer the oil shock’s drag on housing, the smaller the window for catch-up activity before shoppers delay until next
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