Captain Save a Home

06/01/2026

Mortgage rates cooled off last week. Home prices showed modest stabilization, with federal housing data rebounding slightly while broader home price measures indicated slowing annual appreciation. Consumer confidence remained relatively resilient despite a small pullback. Housing activity was uneven, as building permits recovered from prior declines, but new home sales weakened. Mortgage demand fell sharply, driven by a significant drop in refinancing activity. Economic growth remained positive but came in below expectations, while inflation stayed elevated and consumer spending remained steady despite softer income growth. Labor market data suggested some cooling, with both initial and continuing jobless claims trending higher.

The FHFA House Price Index increased 0.1% month-over-month in March, matching expectations and rebounding from a 0.1% decline in February. Home prices were up 1.7% year-over-year, unchanged from the prior annual pace, while the index level increased to 441.5 from 441.2.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index showed mixed results in March. Seasonally adjusted prices slipped 0.2% month-over-month, compared with a 0.1% decline previously, while non-seasonally adjusted prices increased 1.0% from the prior month. Annual price growth came in at 0.8%, slightly below the 0.9% expected and prior reading.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased to 93.1 in May, topping expectations of 91.9 despite easing slightly from April’s level of 93.8.

Mortgage application submissions fell 8.5% during the week ending 5/22, following a 2.3% decline in the prior week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.4%, while the Refinance Index declined 18.1%.

Building permits were revised to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,423,000 in April, below expectations of 1,442,000 but above the prior reading of 1,363,000. Permits increased 4.4% month-over-month, rebounding from an 11.4% decline in March.

The second estimate of first-quarter GDP showed the economy expanded at a 1.6% annualized pace, below expectations of 2.0% but above the prior estimate of 0.5%. GDP sales increased 1.5%, while the GDP Price Index rose 3.5%.

Personal income was unchanged in April, missing expectations for a 0.4% increase and slowing from a 0.5% gain in March. Personal spending increased 0.5%, matching expectations, while the Core PCE Price Index rose 0.2% month-over-month and 3.3% year-over-year. The headline PCE Price Index increased 0.4% from March and 3.8% from a year earlier.

Continuing jobless claims rose to 1,786,000 for the week ending 5/16, above expectations of 1,780,000 and up from 1,771,000 the previous week. Initial jobless claims increased to 215,000 for the week ending 5/23, exceeding expectations of 211,000 and up from 210,000 the prior week.

New home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 622,000 in April, below expectations of 661,000 and down from 663,000 in March. Sales declined 6.2% month-over-month following a 3.4% increase in the prior month.

05/26/2026

Tired of Being a Wisconsin Landlord? Sell Your Rental Property As-Is for Cash

Milwaukee cash home buyers helping tired landlords sell rental properties fast in 53206 and throughout Southeast Wisconsin. Sell your house as-is with no repairs, commissions, or closing costs. Fast cash offers from trusted local investors.

05/26/2026

The NAHB Housing Market Index rose to 37 in May, above expectations for 34 and up from 34 previously, marking a modest improvement in home builder sentiment.

The ADP weekly employment update showed that private payrolls increased by 42,250 for the week ending 5/15, above the prior increase of 33,000.

Pending home sales increased 1.4% month-over-month in April, topping expectations for a 1.0% gain, while the Pending Home Sales Index rose to 74.8 from 73.8 previously.

Mortgage application submissions slipped 2.3% during the week ending 5/15. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 4.1% while the Refinance Index decreased 1.7%.

Building permits rose to a preliminary annualized rate of 1,442,000 in April, above expectations for 1,380,000 and up from 1,363,000 previously. Permits increased 5.8% month-over-month after declining 11.5% previously.

Housing starts increased to an annualized rate of 1,465,000 in April, exceeding expectations for 1,420,000, though starts declined 2.8% month-over-month following a 12.0% increase previously.

Continuing jobless claims were at 1,782,000 during the week ending 5/9, which was roughly 6,000 claims higher than the previous week. Initial jobless claims were at 209,000 during the week ending 5/16, slightly below expectations for 210,000 and down from 212,000 the week before.

05/19/2026

Mortgage rates trended higher. Existing home sales were mostly flat in April, reflecting a housing market still facing affordability challenges. Hiring growth slowed further, while inflation came in hotter than expected, signaling persistent price pressures. Mortgage applications improved slightly due to stronger purchase activity, though refinance demand softened. Jobless claims moved higher, pointing to some easing in labor market strength. Retail sales continued to rise, but consumer spending momentum slowed from the prior month.

Existing home sales edged up 0.2% month-over-month in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million, slightly below expectations for 4.05 million but modestly above the prior month’s 4.01 million pace.

The ADP weekly employment update showed payroll growth of 33,000 for the latest week, down from the prior reading of 39,250.
Inflation accelerated in April, with the CPI rising 0.6% month-over-month and 3.8% year-over-year, while core CPI increased 0.4% monthly and 2.8% annually, both slightly above expectations and the prior month’s readings.

Mortgage application submissions increased 1.7% during the week ending 5/8. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 3.9% from the previous week, while refinance application submissions decreased 0.8%.

Continuing jobless claims rose to 1,782,000 during the week ending 5/2, above the prior week’s 1,758,000 level but slightly below expectations. Initial jobless claims increased to 211,000 during the week ending 5/9, above expectations for 205,000 and up from the prior week’s 199,000.

Retail sales rose 0.5% month-over-month in April, matching expectations but slowing from the prior month’s 1.6% increase. Core retail sales also increased 0.7%, while the retail control group rose 0.5%, slightly above expectations.

05/13/2026

Condo for rent--just in time for summer--A/C and in unit washer/dryer

Apply at:

2 Bedroom upper 1.5 bathroom Large sunken living room Large dining room Private balcony Electric smooth top range Refrigerator Dishwasher Washer dryer in-unit. Built-in air conditioner Off street parking Please visit our website to schedule a showing. www.citywiderentalsmke.com Monday - Friday: 9am....

05/13/2026

Property Tax Relief Campaign Now Live

"Enough Is Enough" just launched statewide

Wisconsin property taxpayers are facing growing affordability challenges as property taxes continue to rise across the state. Wisconsin has the 8th highest property taxes in the nation, creating added strain for homeowners, seniors, families and future homebuyers.

Recently, the WRA launched the “Enough Is Enough” property tax awareness campaign, reaching out to voters across the state to raise awareness about Wisconsin’s $2.5 billion budget surplus and encourage residents to contact their state Senator in support of meaningful property tax relief.

Wisconsin property taxpayers are being hit by rising property tax bills year after year. That money should be returned to the property taxpayers who paid it.

05/13/2026

Free yard waste bags for City of Milwaukee Residents

05/11/2026

Mortgage rates declined slightly last week. The latest housing reports were mixed, as Building Permits declined and Mortgage Applications moved lower, signaling softer near-term housing activity, while New Home Sales and Construction Spending both increased, pointing to continued underlying demand and ongoing building activity. Labor market data also showed uneven trends: the ADP Employment Report reflected slower private-sector hiring, but the Employment Situation Report showed stronger overall payroll growth and a stable unemployment rate, suggesting the broader labor market remains resilient. Meanwhile, Jobless Claims stayed relatively low despite a slight increase in initial filings, and Consumer Credit rose sharply, indicating consumers continue to rely on borrowing and maintain spending activity.

Building permits slipped 11.4% month-over-month in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,363,000, which came in slightly below expectations and reversed February’s sharp increase.

New home sales, however, increased 8.9% in February to an annualized pace of 635,000, above the prior month’s level of 583,000.

Construction spending increased 0.6% month-over-month in March, following a 0.2% decline in February.

Mortgage application submissions decreased 4.4% during the week ending 5/1. Refinance application submissions decreased 5.1% while seasonally adjusted purchase application submissions decreased 3.7%.

The ADP Employment Report showed private payrolls increased by 109,000 in April, which was below the expected increase of 118,000 but above the prior month’s gain of 61,000.

Continuing jobless claims were unchanged at 1,766,000 during the week ending 4/25, which was below expectations for 1,800,000. Initial jobless claims increased to 200,000 during the week ending 5/2, which was higher than the prior week’s level of 190,000 but still below expectations for 205,000.

Consumer credit jumped to $24.86 billion in March, well above the expected $12.50 billion increase and sharply higher than the prior month’s $8.85 billion gain.

The employment situation reports were mixed in April. Average hourly earnings increased 0.2% month-over-month, matching the prior month but coming in below expectations for a 0.3% increase, while annual wage growth rose 3.6%. The average workweek increased to 34.3 hours. Government payrolls slipped by 8,000 while manufacturing payrolls declined by 2,000. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000, surpassing expectations for 65,000, while private payrolls rose by 123,000. The participation rate edged down to 61.8% while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3%.

05/05/2026

Mortgage rates trended higher last week. Home price growth softened across both major indexes, while mortgage applications declined as weaker refinancing activity offset a modest rise in purchases. Housing data was mixed, with permits dropping sharply and starts also edging lower. The Fed held rates steady, while jobless claims improved, signaling a stable labor market. Growth came in softer than expected but improved from the prior quarter, inflation was largely in line, and consumer income and spending both showed continued strength.

The FHFA House Price Index was unchanged month-over-month in February at 0.0%, falling short of expectations for a 0.1% increase and slowing from the prior 0.2% gain, while prices rose 1.7% year-over-year, slightly below the 1.8% previously.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index slipped 0.1% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, reversing from a 0.2% increase in the prior month, while the non-seasonally adjusted index rose 0.4% month-over-month and increased 0.9% year-over-year, both below expectations of 1.1% and the prior 1.2%.

MBA mortgage application submissions decreased 1.6% for during the week ending 4/24 with the Purchase Index increasing 1.2% and the Refinance Index decreasing 4.4%.

Building permits jumped 10.8% month-over-month in February. Housing starts fell 3.0% month-over-month.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, in line with expectations.

Continuing jobless claims came in at 1,785,000 for the week ending 4/18, below expectations of 1,820,000 and decreasing from the prior 1,808,000, while initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 for the week ending 4/25, below expectations of 213,000 and down from the prior 215,000, pointing to continued stability in the labor market.

GDP increased 2.0% quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter, below expectations of 2.2% but up from the prior 0.5%.

Personal income rose 0.6% month-over-month in March, above expectations of 0.3% and up from the prior 0.0%, while consumer spending increased 0.9%, in line with expectations and above the prior 0.6%, and the headline PCE Price Index rose 0.7% month-over-month and 3.5% year-over-year, both matching expectations.

04/29/2026

David Gonzalez at Dynamic Auto Glass & Tint

A rock hit my windshield while driving in Utah and David Gonzalez at Dynamic Auto Glass & Tint was incredible to work with! He quoted the job off of the photo and arrived 20 mins after I called him 😲 He did exactly what he said he was going to do at an affordable price.

Definitely consider him if you have car or truck windows that need replacing or fixing or tinting.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554875925537

10+ years in the auto glass industry. Work with all makes and models. Automotive & commercial tinting