Sales at furniture stores have been sliding amid a cooling housing market and weakening consumer sentiment about making big purchases.

People motivated to buy or sell homes in this market are often hitting significant milestones, from babies and back-to-office mandates to downsizing and retirement.

Builders find there’s high demand for new developments, but they’re also finding it harder to convince banks to loan them money.

Last month, 20% fewer existing homes were sold than in May 2022. People are staying put — and staying together — to avoid higher costs.

More buyers are turning to newly constructed homes as fewer owners of existing homes choose to sell.

When people buy new homes, they buy a lot of other things too, like furniture, appliances and electronics. When home buying slows, that can have a real ripple effect on other industries.

Lumber prices have stabilized after unprecedented volatility.

Affordability is attracting people to sunnier climes — and that’s helping to heat up those regions’ economies.

Prices are still rising, but more slowly. What does that mean for house hunters this spring?

Especially those closely tied to the housing market.