Rates on 30-year mortgages fell to 6.06% this week from 6.16% last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.04%. Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropping to 5.38%.

Phone numbers can shape how customers perceive and respond to a business so paying attention to spam flags, recycling and area codes matters.

Builder confidence weakened as affordability pressures persisted, yet lower rates, price cuts and incentives are giving buyers more leverage.