There's a lot of pent-up demand for new homes, but homebuilders are facing a combination of high interest rates, labor shortages and tariffs on construction materials.

Economic uncertainty and high interest rates are holding back buyers, though high-end cash purchasers aren't waiting.

 Affordability is still the main issue. But uncertainty in the economy is also playing a big role.

“My mortgage loan guy said the VA would have denied us getting the amount of the loan that we wanted without my wife's income in part as well,” said Eric Reineman. Two weeks later, they tied the knot.

“I started to learn how to attack things on our credit reports that did not look great in the eyes of lenders,” said Nyeisha Brooks, a first-time homeowner.

They don’t make loans themselves, but they help banks make more of them.

The National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales for February that exceeded economists’ expectations. But regional markets vary.

Four out of five prospective buyers won’t act until mortgage rates fall further, a recent U.S. News & World Report survey found.

Economic uncertainty has combined with a persistent lack of affordability to chill the housing market.

With inventory reduced and fire risk increased, both home prices and insurance rates could rise in Southern California.