High prices and economic uncertainty kept demand muted; now, rates are already rising again and global tensions could add to homebuyer hesitation. 

The median monthly housing payment was $2,591 during the four weeks ending March 1, down 2.8% year over year. 

Payments are falling largely thanks to the weekly average mortgage rate dropping to 5.98% last week, down from 6.76% a year earlier and the first time it has dipped below 6% in three and a half years. (The daily average mortgage has risen from 5.99% last week to 6.07% on March 4.) On the other side of the housing payment equation, the median home-sale price rose 1% year over year to $381,750.