246 articles and videos on mortgage rates, the housing market and smart home financing, in plain English.
We received data for existing home sales in June, and the numbers are worth taking a look at. Obviously, this is a report that comes out every month – and we’ve been paying more attention to it than usual. There’s no question that things are slowing down, there’s no argument to that fact! But it’s…
Today’s topic is about the CPI (inflation) number that came out this morning: a record-high 9.1%. It’s definitely running high and we are all feeling it, of course. But this is totally to be expected and will continue happening for the next few months. What to Expect in the Next Few Months From last year,…
▶ VideoWe’ve recently made changes with jumbo loans, making our offer almost unbeatable for jumbo loans. If you or someone you know is buying a home in the higher end of the price range, then definitely reach out to us so we can discuss the options. Conforming vs. Jumbo Loans Conforming loan limits run out at…
Rumors were flying months ago, and now it looks like it’s going to happen… today’s topic is further proof that politicians are focused on votes and that’s all that matters. The recent announcement is that California has green-lighted checks up to $1,050 (depending on your income) for inflation relief. Our politicians think it’s a smart…
What is more painful than buying a home right now, even with interest rates high and housing prices going up year over year? It’s renting! Double-Digit Increases in Rent Costs We have a report on rent costs around the country. The lowest metro areas are seeing numbers in the mid-teens of increases in pricing, and…
Today is Fed Day, and it’s been a doozy! Last Friday, the CPI number came in higher than expected, so there’s been a lot going on in the market. We’ve seen mortgage rates up by 3/4 of a percent! It hasn’t been great. The market has been saying: get this inflation under control. As long…
Usually, my weekly videos are related to real estate and mortgages. But I wanted to share something different after a company call today with Walter Niel (our owner at Franklin Loan Center), and he was talking about the 10 things that require zero talent. These things are critical! I don’t care who you are or…
In a few days, on Friday, is the 1x per month jobs data number report. This comes out the first Friday of every month. It looks at the previous month’s jobs numbers and includes unemployment information. Why does it matter? It’s one of the data points that has the potential to move the market. Currently:…
The April housing data report came out, and it continues to show strong numbers. But some of what we have been talking about is indeed starting to happen. Here’s what you need to know: Year Over Year Inventory is Higher For example, we can see that year-over-year inventory has grown significantly. Remember that we are…
Today, a big economic data point came out: Consumer Price Index (CPI). It’s an inflation number, which is an important hot button in the mortgage industry right now, because inflation is the main reason why interest rates are going up. Inflation is Up Inflation, as expected, it came in at a high number: 8.3% is…
It was highly anticipated that on Fed Day this week that rates would be raised by half a percent. One thing I want to point out with this Fed announcement is something that I’ve shared in the past: when the Fed raises rates, mortgage rates don’t correlate. They are two different things. Good Trends in…
Proposition 19 has a few aspects that people have forgotten, which is why I wanted to mention it again in today’s video. There are some awful things in Prop 19 that were snuck through. But there are a few great things about Prop 19 that opened up more options for older homeowners. How CA Prop…
