The share of first-time homebuyers remains at a near-record low of 22% as a housing shortage and high prices sideline many, according to a new report by the National Association of Realtors. But those who are managing to buy are older and wealthier than in the past, and 1 in 10 paid all cash, a record high since such data was collected starting in 2003.

Following the midterm elections, HousingWire examines prospects for bipartisan housing policy in a divided Washington, highlighting industry priorities around affordability, mortgage costs and consumer protection. ALTA emphasized the importance of maintaining consumer safeguards as policymakers pursue affordability initiatives, stating, “Fraud is unaffordable, and increasingly sophisticated schemes are putting American homeowners and their property rights at risk.”

With a “blue wave” in Congress and lame-duck lawmakers headed toward a budget deadline, housing bill appropriations Democrats have favored will likely be one near-term mortgage-related priority, one speaker at an industry conference said Tuesday.

Investment in residential projects slumped 5.5%, a pullback economists attributed largely to weakness in renovation outlays, as higher mortgage rates continue to drag housing affordability lower and homeowners pull back on discretionary spending.

The number of new real estate listings is down, but that isn’t cause for alarm—not yet, anyway.