Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., (ICE) a provider of financial market technology and data powering global capital markets, recently released its May ICE Mortgage Monitor report. The analysis found that U.S. home prices rose 0.32 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis — the strongest single-month gain in nearly two years.
While modest on the surface, that pace translates to a 3.9 percent seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR), illustrating significant momentum. Annual home price growth also accelerated to 0.9 percent in April.
“Home price growth accelerated in April as softer interest rates raised the ceiling on borrower affordability,” Andy Walden, head of Mortgage and Housing Market Research at ICE, said in the report. “While a 0.32 percent monthly increase may not sound like much, when annualized, it’s equivalent to home prices appreciating at nearly 4 percent if sustained over a 12-month period. The key question now is whether that momentum can withstand the recent upward pressure on interest rates heading into the heart of the spring buying season.”
Other takeaways from the report included:
- Home price recovery broadens nationally, but regional divide sharpens.
- Ninety percent of markets saw home prices rise on a seasonally adjusted basis in April — also the largest share in nearly two years — with 70 of the 100 largest markets posted year-over-year gains. The Northeast continued to lead appreciation, accounting for seven of the eight fastest-appreciating markets. All 30 markets posting YoY declines were localized in the South and West.
- First-time homebuyers accounted for highest share of mortgaged purchases since mid-2020.
The ICE report also indicated first-time homebuyers accounted for more than half of all purchase loans closed in March, the highest share since June 2020, supported by improved affordability earlier in the year and insulation from the rate lock-in effect constraining existing homeowners. Roughly two-thirds of FHA and VA loans went to first-time buyers, matching a five-year high including:
- Q1 refinance lending hit a four-year high.
- First-lien refinances totaling $242 billion closed in Q1 2026, more than doubling year-over-year and marking the strongest quarterly total since early 2022.
- Refinances accounted for nearly 44 percent of all originations, the highest share in four years, with rate-and-term refinances representing 60 percent of all refi activity, a five-year high. The average rate-and-term refinancers reduced their monthly payment by $257 through a 97-basis point rate reduction.
- Purchase loans close at fastest pace on record.
The average purchase loan closed in 36.8 days in March, the fastest average closing time since ICE began tracking the metric in 2019, down from 37.3 days a year ago. The typical purchase loan moved from application to rate lock in 11 days, then from rate lock to closing in an additional 26 days. Across all origination types, the average closing time of 38.2 days marked the third-fastest on record.
“Recent mortgage trends highlight the importance of giving lenders and servicers the tools to respond quickly to changing borrower needs and market conditions,” ICE Mortgage Technology President Bob Hart, said. “From helping first-time buyers navigate financing to supporting refinance opportunities and proactively managing portfolio risk, timely data and integrated technology are critical. ICE’s mortgage ecosystem is designed to help clients act on these market shifts with greater speed, insight and efficiency.”