What’s the biggest payment you make every month? If you’re a renter, it’s probably your rent. But did you know that you can pay your rent on time, every time, for years, and it may never show up in your credit history? It’s pretty frustrating, especially if you’d like to buy a home someday and you’re trying to build your credit.The good thing is that’s changing right now. Here’s what you need to know and why it could open a door you thought was closed.The Problem for Would-Be BuyersYou’re not the only one frustrated. According to Zillow, nearly a third of applicants (32.88%) get denied a mortgage due to insufficient credit history – not missed payments or too much debt. Just not enough credit history for a lender to say “yes.”It’s the most common hurdle would-be buyers have. As Zillow explains:

“Nearly one-third of mortgage applicants are denied a loan because of insufficient credit history, making it the most common reason for a denial.”

But there’s finally a way in now that how credit gets measured is changing.The Good News: Credit Is Getting BroaderAs Michael Sherman, General Manager and Senior VP at Zillow Rentals, explains:

“Affordability is the headline in housing right now, and access to financing is a very important part of the story. Credit history is a barrier standing in the way of too many potential buyers. Rent reporting is a direct way to address that.”

Here’s what Sherman is talking about. New credit models are emerging that take on-time rent and some utility payments into consideration to help renters get credit for the bills they already pay.VantageScore is one company with a new credit model that has been approved for use by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). And that roll out could have a big impact on renters like you.A recent study by VantageScore found that nearly 4 million U.S. renters could finally become eligible for a mortgage if their on-time rent payments were counted as part of their credit history. Now, this isn’t a guarantee that it will suddenly count for every would-be buyer, but it does crack open the door.Here’s the catch though, you still have to walk through it.Counting Rental Payment History Is Not AutomaticThere are more options available to build credit, but you have to be proactive. Your rent won’t necessarily count unless you make sure it does. And the sooner you take credit for your payments, the better.Here’s how to get started based on a few tips from Experian, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and FICO:Ask your landlord or property manager if your rent is being reported. If it’s not, opt in. If your landlord doesn’t offer rent reporting, there are services available. Be sure to check fees and which bureaus they provide your data to.Check your credit reports for errors. Mistakes happen and fixing them is one of the quickest ways to strengthen your profile. The CFPB offers step-by-step instructions on how to fix errors on your report.Follow basic, important credit rules. Pay your bills on time, keep your card balances low, and don’t apply for a bunch of new credit at once.Don’t close any accounts – even if you have paid them off and don’t use them often.Diversify your profile by getting a secured credit card or becoming an authorized user on someone else’s account to help you build history beyond rent.These steps take a little time and effort, but it could be worth it if it starts building up your credit history. Just remember, not every lender uses the same scoring model and there are more changes on the horizon. So, the sooner you get credit for the work you do, the better. Even if you’re not sure when you might be ready to buy a home, talking to a lender is a good place to start. A professional loan officer will help you make a plan and help you figure out a timeline to get ready to officially apply and buy.Bottom LineThe credit landscape is changing, but action is required on your part. You have to take credit for what you do. And the sooner you get started, the better.Ready to see where you stand? A quick conversation with a loan officer costs you nothing and could show you you’re closer to owning a home than you think.

If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are slowing down, you may be wondering: is this really a good time to sell?While the latest numbers show sales picked up slightly in September, they’re still down compared to last year. But here’s the perspective the headlines can miss.Homes are still selling every single day. Because no matter what’s happening with mortgage rates or the economy, life keeps happening too. People get new jobs. Families grow. Relationships change. People retire, downsize, or need to move closer to the people they love. And those life changes create buyers and sellers in every market.Just Look at the MathAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), based on the current pace homeowners are expected to sell almost 4 million homes this year. Break that down, and that’s roughly:11,000 homes every day.450 homes every hour.8 homes every minute.So, yes, the market may be moving at a slower pace than it has at other points in time. But slower doesn’t mean it’s stopped. As Hannah Jones, Senior Economic Research Analyst at Realtor.com, says:

“Even in today’s high-price, high-rate market, homebuying activity around major life events, such as having kids, a job change, or a divorce, keeps the market in motion.”

Thousands of buyers are still making moves every day. The key is making sure your house is positioned to get their attention.What That Means for Your SaleToday’s buyers have more choices, so they can afford to be more selective about things like price and condition. That makes having the right strategy from the start especially important.Because you don’t need every buyer to be looking for a home like yours. You just need the right one – and to know how to get in front of that buyer.Bottom LineDon’t let a headline about slowing home sales convince you no one is buying. Homes are still selling every minute of every day.If you need or want to move, talk to an agent about what it’ll take to make sure yours is one of them.

Mortgage rates being back above 7% isn’t exactly the news most people wanted. But it’s changing the market in ways that matter whether you’re buying or selling. The number of homes for sale is growing faster than it was this time last year. And interestingly, the main reason isn’t a flood of new listings. It’s because homes aren’t selling as quickly.Here’s why – and what that means if you’re thinking about buying or selling.Inventory Growth Is Picking Up SteamAccording to HousingWire Data, after inventory growth slowed down for most of the past year, it’s accelerated again in recent weeks. You can see that in the graph below. Just look at the blue line:And what’s behind this shift might surprise you.When rates rise, some buyers hit pause. That means fewer homes sell each week. And as those unsold homes stay on the market alongside new listings, the number available starts to grow (see the blue line in the graph below).Here’s another way to look at it to make it even more obvious. The graph below shows the relationship between rates and inventory. Again, this year is the blue line. Last year? That’s the green.With rates inching up this year, you can see inventory has grown by about 25k. But when rates went down this time last year, buyers jumped back in, and inventory actually dropped by about 9k.Logan Mohtashami, Lead Analyst at HousingWire, explains how that’s flipped from 2025 to 2026:

“With mortgage rates over 7%, demand tends to soften and inventory rises . . .”

Homes Are Spending More Time on the MarketHere’s another metric that shows the impact rates are having: time on market. Data from Realtor.com shows the typical home spent 61 days on the market this September. Back in September 2021, it was just 41 days (see graph below):Here’s what that tells us. In 2021, when rates were low, more buyers were active, and homes sold fast. But now that rates are a bit higher, not as many buyers are interested, so it takes a bit longer to close a deal.How To Make This Market Work for YouSo, what does all of this mean for your plans? That depends on which side of the move you’re on:If you’re buying, more homes for sale means more choices and less pressure to rush. And more room to negotiate too. A house that’s been sitting for a while could have a seller who’s more willing to talk – not just about price, but repairs, closing costs, or even helping buy down your mortgage rate.That doesn’t mean every seller will play ball. But compared to the frenzy of a few years ago, buyers have more leverage now.If you’re selling, the right strategy can make all the difference. Buyers have more homes to choose from, so making yours stand out is especially important. That starts with pricing it right from day one, making a great first impression, and working with your agent to highlight what makes your house worth choosing. Buyers are still buying and homes are still selling. The key is making sure yours is positioned to attract the right buyer.The market hasn’t stopped. It’s just moving at a different pace. And whether you’re buying or selling, your strategy needs to move with it.Bottom LineIn many places right now, inventory is growing and homes are taking a bit longer to sell. And that’s information that should shape the strategy you use going in.Whether you’re buying or selling, connect with a local real estate agent to look at how long homes are taking to sell in your neighborhood, so your offer, or your price, fits today’s market.