Consumers Now Prefer Buying Over Renting For The First Time Since 2023

On today’s Hot Sheet, Byron Lazine discussed new Bank of America data showing homebuyer confidence rebounding in 2026, with more consumers saying it’s better to buy a home than rent as optimism around homeownership continues to grow.

He also covered U.S. Census Bureau data revealing May new home sales declined amid elevated inventory levels, along with MBA data showing refinance activity continued to strengthen while purchase applications remained slightly above year-ago levels. Finally, Byron reviewed the latest U.S. Department of Labor unemployment claims report, highlighting a drop in initial claims even as insured unemployment edged higher.