▶ VideoThe latest jobs report just dropped — and at first glance, it looked like a blowout. Economists were expecting roughly 50,000–60,000 new jobs.Instead, the headline number came in at 130,000, with 172,000 in private sector job growth. Sounds strong, right? But here’s the problem: not all job data is created equal — and some of the most respected…
▶ VideoA new report from Totality (formerly CoreLogic) just revised its 2026 home price forecast upward—from 4.3% to 4.5%, right in line with long-term appreciation trends in markets like Southern California.With affordability top of mind, many buyers are waiting for rates to fall. That sounds logical—until you run the numbers.I compared two scenarios:
▶ VideoAt the start of the year, I keep hearing the same thing from buyers, investors, and even agents: “Real estate has been a terrible investment lately.” On the surface, I get why people feel that way. According to the National Association of Realtors, home prices nationally rose about 1.7% last year. And if you stop there,…
▶ VideoAs we kick off the new year, mortgage rates are quietly settling into a range we haven’t seen in quite some time. From a technical standpoint, mortgage-backed securities have broken through key resistance levels — and that matters more than most headlines suggest. What does this mean for homeowners, buyers, and investors across the Southern California…
▶ VideoAffordability has been the single biggest reason buyers have stayed on the sidelines over the past couple of years. And lately, the headlines are loud: “Rates have fallen!” “Now is the time to buy!” But what does affordability really look like today? Over the last several months, mortgage rates have quietly settled into one of the most stable…
▶ VideoIf you’ve been watching the Southern California housing market (or the Washington real estate scene), you know the last few years have felt like running a marathon in sand. Low inventory, affordability issues, and mortgage rate volatility have kept buyers, sellers, and even seasoned agents in a constant state of “is this the year things change?”…
▶ VideoIf you’ve been watching mortgage rates over the past year, you know it’s been a frustrating ride. Volatility, uncertainty, and stubbornly high rates have made affordability the biggest challenge in today’s housing market. But this week, we may have seen some early signs worth paying attention to. In my latest weekly update, I break down why…
▶ VideoAffordability remains the #1 challenge in today’s housing market, especially across the Southern California housing market and the Pacific Northwest. After the latest Federal Reserve meeting, many buyers and homeowners are asking the same question: “If the Fed cut rates, why didn’t my mortgage rate drop the same amount?” In the latest update, Bill from Franklin Loan Center…
▶ VideoWhen you look at today’s housing headlines, you’d think the real estate market is in freefall. Articles are shouting that “prices are falling everywhere” or that the market is on the brink of collapse. But when you dig into the actual data, the story is far more stable — and far more predictable — than…
▶ VideoWhen it comes to buying a home, few steps are as misunderstood—and as critical—as getting pre-approved versus pre-qualified. While these terms might sound interchangeable, they carry very different weight when it comes to your offer, your credibility, and even your peace of mind during the process. A pre-qualification is a basic overview of your financial situation based on unverified information—what…
▶ VideoMany homebuyers and even some real estate pros assume that when the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, mortgage rates automatically drop too. But that’s not how it works — and this week’s Fed meeting proved it again. The Fed recently announced another ¼-point cut to the federal funds rate. But instead of mortgage rates falling, they actually ticked…
▶ VideoWhen applying for a mortgage, one of the most common questions homebuyers ask is: “Should I pay points to buy down my rate?” In simple terms, points (or “discount points”) are upfront fees you pay to secure a lower interest rate. Each point typically equals 1% of your loan amount—so on a $1,000,000 loan, one point costs $10,000. Paying…
