Winter is generally a slow season for the real-estate sector, but will it stay frozen or thaw out—and more importantly, will home prices keep rising, or fall? 

Home prices and mortgage rates show few signs of falling at the end of October, as low inventory spurs competition among home buyers. Home buying demand is also drying up as many aspiring homeowners have decided purchasing a home is simply unaffordable. 

The 30-year mortgage was averaging at 7.9% as of October 26, 2023. A home buyer buying a median-priced home of roughly $400,000 today has to earn 50% more than they would have if they wanted to buy a median-priced home at the start of the pandemic, Redfin said recently.

Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week and applications to purchase a home increased by the most in five weeks, in a promising sign for a housing market that has stalled out as mortgage rates edged towards 8%.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to an average of 7.44% in the week ending November 16, down from 7.5% the week before, according to data from Freddie Mac released Thursday.

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Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) is a new exhibition drawn entirely from The Broad's collection, featuring works by L.A.-based artists. Taking its title from a John Baldessari piece, the museum’s first-floor galleries include 21 artists including Doug Aitken, Lari Pittman, Catherine Opie and Mike Kelley, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Sayre Gomez, and Joe Ray. For its opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy Family Weekend Workshops: Craft, Create, Celebrate; food vendors including Trap Kitchen, Tacos y Mariscos El Samurai and Not So Instant Coffee, plus tunes and DJ sets by Chulita Vinyl Club.