“Even people who are very wealthy will buy real estate without understanding what it’s going to cost them,” one financial planner warns.

Americans are having fewer children than ever, which could stoke new and different homebuying preferences.

Opendoor announced it will back buyers’ offers with cash to improve their chances in a bidding war, promising the seller the company will buy the home if the buyer is unable to get financing.

The average mortgage loan process takes about 30 days from underwriting to closing. But many lenders are pushing out the timetable because of the deluge of applications.