▶ VideoIf you pay attention to the national headlines, you have probably heard a lot of doom and gloom about the housing market. High interest rates and creeping home prices have made many potential buyers hesitant to jump in. However, there is a dynamic unfolding right now that most people are completely overlooking: housing inventory is…
▶ VideoIn my nearly 30 years in the mortgage and lending industry, I have heard just about every myth in the book. But there is one particular strategy being repeated right now that deserves a serious reality check: “I am going to wait for interest rates to fall before I jump into the housing market.” On the…
▶ VideoThe real estate market this year has felt a bit like a rollercoaster. We started the year with strong momentum and rates heading in an encouraging direction, only to face sudden volatility driven by global events and geopolitical tensions. For months, uncertainty kept interest rates elevated, leaving many prospective homebuyers and homeowners wondering when they…
▶ VideoAs a mortgage professional, my days are usually spent helping people achieve the dream of homeownership. I love walking clients through the process, looking at numbers, and handing over the keys to a new property. But today, I’m going to do the exact opposite of what you’d expect: I’m going to give you three excellent…
▶ VideoA major misconception continues to keep prospective homebuyers stuck on the sidelines: the belief that you must have a 20% down payment to buy a home. While it is true that putting 20% down allows you to avoid paying mortgage insurance, sitting out of the market just to save up that lump sum might be…
▶ VideoThe financial markets have been on a roller coaster over the last few months, and today brought another wave of breaking economic news. The Federal Reserve released the meeting minutes from their late-April session, pulling back the curtain on where interest rates may be headed next. For anyone currently shopping for a home or keeping…
▶ VideoThe blue and orange gear is out! This week, our family is heading up to Boise State University to watch our youngest daughter, Makenna, walk across the stage. It’s a huge milestone for any parent—the final kid getting their degree and officially entering the workforce. However, the bigger story isn’t just the graduation; it’s how…
▶ VideoIn the current financial landscape, many prospective homeowners and investors are looking at the numbers and feeling a bit of “analysis paralysis.” It’s a perfectly reasonable question: Why would I put my hard-earned money into a real estate market where I might see a 3% return, when I can park that same money in an index…
▶ VideoUnderstanding the Recent Rate “Bump” If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know the world is in a volatile state. This global uncertainty has a direct line to your wallet—specifically through oil prices. When oil goes up, inflation fears follow. Because the bond market is sensitive to inflation, we’ve seen a recent “bump” in mortgage…
▶ VideoOne of the biggest conversations happening right now across the Southern California housing market and even for those relocating to Washington State is simple: “Why would I buy when the payment is so much higher than rent?” It’s a fair question—and one I hear every single week. The Reality: Monthly Payment Shock Let’s break it down with a real-world…
▶ VideoA recent article titled “The Disappearing American Mortgage” suggests something concerning: younger and working-class Americans may be stepping away from homeownership altogether. At first glance, that might not seem surprising. Between rising home prices and higher interest rates, affordability has become a major topic across the Southern California housing market and even in areas where many Californians are relocating,…
▶ VideoWith ongoing global uncertainty and headlines focused on instability in the Middle East, investors are once again talking about a “flight to safety.” Historically, that conversation almost always includes one word: gold. And yes, gold has been on a serious run since early 2024. But here’s the bigger question for homebuyers, investors, and homeowners across…
