Chen Zhao

Chen Zhao is the head of economics research, where she produces research on the housing market for public and internal audiences.

Previously, she was an executive director leading housing finance and financial markets research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chen was an economics consultant at Analysis Group, Inc., where she worked on financial litigation cases and led teams conducting health economics and outcomes research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

While in graduate school, Chen was with the Center for Economic Studies and the Social Economic and Housing Statistics Division at the US Census Bureau, where she conducted applied microeconomics research using large scale restricted-access linked survey-administrative data. She started her career at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, where she focused on labor and health economics.

Email Chen

Most Recent

Expect Mortgage-Rate Volatility Amid Uncertainty Heading Into Warsh’s 2nd Meeting as Fed Chair

July 27, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: Rates are elevated and likely to remain volatile with risks on three fronts: oil prices, AI-driven inflation, and a newly

Mortgage Rates to Fall as Cooler-Than-Expected Inflation Report Lowers Odds of a July Fed Rate Hike

July 14, 2026

Takeaway: Rates will fall today after an unexpectedly soft CPI inflation reading that will keep the Fed from hiking at the July 29th meeting. Inflation

Mortgage Rates Likely to Stay High For Now as Markets Digest Warsh’s First Fed Meeting

June 17, 2026

Takeaway: He’s no one’s sock puppet! Now that Kevin Warsh has the job, he’s ready to make changes. It will take markets a while to

Markets Eye Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Warsh’s First Fed Meeting as Key Tests This Week

June 15, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: It’s going to be a big week with an announced deal that may open the Strait of Hormuz by Friday

Mortgage Rates Unaffected, Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady on Latest Inflation Data

June 10, 2026

Takeaway: Today’s CPI data should have little effect on mortgage rates. The report came in better than last month, but that was expected. It should

This Week’s Inflation and Sentiment Data May Clarify the Fed’s Path

June 8, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: With the Strait of Hormuz still closed and fresh off a hot jobs report last week, rates are at risk

Most Recent

Expect Mortgage-Rate Volatility Amid Uncertainty Heading Into Warsh’s 2nd Meeting as Fed Chair

July 27, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: Rates are elevated and likely to remain volatile with risks on three fronts: oil prices, AI-driven inflation, and a newly

Mortgage Rates to Fall as Cooler-Than-Expected Inflation Report Lowers Odds of a July Fed Rate Hike

July 14, 2026

Takeaway: Rates will fall today after an unexpectedly soft CPI inflation reading that will keep the Fed from hiking at the July 29th meeting. Inflation

Mortgage Rates Likely to Stay High For Now as Markets Digest Warsh’s First Fed Meeting

June 17, 2026

Takeaway: He’s no one’s sock puppet! Now that Kevin Warsh has the job, he’s ready to make changes. It will take markets a while to

Markets Eye Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Warsh’s First Fed Meeting as Key Tests This Week

June 15, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: It’s going to be a big week with an announced deal that may open the Strait of Hormuz by Friday

Mortgage Rates Unaffected, Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady on Latest Inflation Data

June 10, 2026

Takeaway: Today’s CPI data should have little effect on mortgage rates. The report came in better than last month, but that was expected. It should

This Week’s Inflation and Sentiment Data May Clarify the Fed’s Path

June 8, 2026

This Week In A Nutshell: With the Strait of Hormuz still closed and fresh off a hot jobs report last week, rates are at risk

New: The Redfin Data Center is here!

Access comprehensive market data, trends, and insights in one place

Chen Zhao

Most Recent

Expect Mortgage-Rate Volatility Amid Uncertainty Heading Into Warsh’s 2nd Meeting as Fed Chair

Mortgage Rates to Fall as Cooler-Than-Expected Inflation Report Lowers Odds of a July Fed Rate Hike

Mortgage Rates Likely to Stay High For Now as Markets Digest Warsh’s First Fed Meeting

Markets Eye Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Warsh’s First Fed Meeting as Key Tests This Week

Mortgage Rates Unaffected, Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady on Latest Inflation Data

This Week’s Inflation and Sentiment Data May Clarify the Fed’s Path

Most Recent

Expect Mortgage-Rate Volatility Amid Uncertainty Heading Into Warsh’s 2nd Meeting as Fed Chair

Mortgage Rates to Fall as Cooler-Than-Expected Inflation Report Lowers Odds of a July Fed Rate Hike

Mortgage Rates Likely to Stay High For Now as Markets Digest Warsh’s First Fed Meeting

Markets Eye Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Warsh’s First Fed Meeting as Key Tests This Week

Mortgage Rates Unaffected, Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady on Latest Inflation Data

This Week’s Inflation and Sentiment Data May Clarify the Fed’s Path