Housing market data to watch as mortgage rates top 7%

New data has shown that Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate has surged to its highest in two months, while Sydney’s result fell despite recording a solid bounce-back the week before. According to Cotality’s Market Indicator Summary, 59.6 per cent of Melbourne auctions successfully cleared, recording its highest preliminary clearance rate since the week ending 24 May….

Lilian Weng, a cofounder of Thinking Machines Lab and former OpenAI safety executive, announced her resignation from her role on Tuesday. In a note to colleagues, later shared on X, she wrote that seven months of recurring illness, made worse by the relentless pace of startup life, had left her unable to give the job…

NatWest has launched a dedicated new build phone line, giving mortgage brokers direct access to specialist support throughout the property-buying process. The service, available on 0345 026 0005, connects brokers with trained business development managers who understand the specific considerations involved in new-build lending. Brokers will be able to use the line for pre-submission case…

In that environment, Allard said a rising number of borrowers are concentrating less on what’s happening with rates and more on their overall financial picture and ability to handle mortgage payments. “There’s a lot of uncertainty over whether rates are going up, down, or sideways,” he said. “I find a lot of borrowers have resorted…

AEW Capital Management busted out binoculars and rifles to hunt for deals and deploy its $1.8B North American real estate fund. Unsplash/Amanda Dalbjörn The company closed its largest fund yet in July 2025 amid compelling market conditions, with plans to capitalize on dislocation and mispriced assets. Now interest rates are rising and perceived as volatile,…

Active stock pickers almost always lose against the broad market. They can’t beat simple math.