Chad McDowell, Edge Home Finance, NMLS #172223

06/03/2026

06/01/2026

Good morning! It wasn't a bad week for interest rates and at this point we'll take that! Rates are down slightly from the highpoint we've seen since the war started and what's more, we've gotten seven straight days of rates NOT going higher. They've either been flat or down slightly. If we do get a resolution to the Iran conflict there is certainly room to see rates start to move back down again. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

05/26/2026

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend! Interest rates last week ended exactly where they began but it wasn't without a little drama in between. Rates spiked on Tuesday to the highest point in over 9 months but as rumors of a peace deal started to surface the markets responded. Oil prices came down a little bit, the bond market rallied, and interest rates got back to where they were at the start of the week. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

05/18/2026

Good morning! It was another rough week for mortgage rates and we are now at the highest point in eight months. There were hopes that the summit with China would net some favorable news for the war in Iran and while both countries want it to end there was little productive discussion. As soon as the summit ended, bond yields began moving higher, when that happens mortgage rates follow suit. Inflation concerns due to the price of oil and the expense of an ongoing war will continue to put upward pressure on rates until we start to get some good news on a resolution. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

05/04/2026

Good morning! It was a rough week for interest rates. As peace talks increased the markets had started to settle down a bit but then on Tuesday we got news of a possible prolonged blockade of the Straight of Hormuz. Oil executives were consulted on the potential impact and markets certainly reacted, oil prices and interest rates moved higher on Wednesday morning. That news wasn't helped by three Fed members making it clear they disagree with the Fed's statement that the Fed is more likely to lower rates moving forward. Those members wish to see where the economic data and inflation numbers trend and are open to the possibility of higher rates. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

04/27/2026

Good morning! Interest rates were flat last week, very little movement to speak of at all. There was talk of potential peace resolutions, that certainly is helping to calm markets. Also, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will be heading his last meeting on Wednesday, the expectation is that Kevin Warsh will be confirmed as his replacement. His appointment slightly increases the likelihood of a rate cut in 2026 but it would still be a bit surprising. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

04/20/2026

Good morning! Interest rates continue to move down from their high point of about a month ago. Bonds (and interest rates) responded favorably after announcement of a detailed plan to hopefully end the conflict in Iran. There was another move downward after Iran said they would reopen Hormuz for the remainder of the cease fire. Rate are still higher than where they were prior to the start of the war but markets are optimistic that this won't last much longer and the trend has been down for three weeks now. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week.

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

04/13/2026

Good morning! Interest rates moved slightly lower again last week. It wasn't much but it's two consecutive weeks of rates moving down and that gives us hope that we have seen the worst for now. We got what typically is a market mover with last weeks inflation report. Inflation was lower than expected and that would generally be good for rates, which is was but the reaction was pretty tepid. Even with lower inflation numbers, concerns of a prolonged conflict in Iran and the potential for oil prices to remain elevated make investors concerned about inflation in the long term. Call me with questions and have a wonderful week!

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-500-4522

04/09/2026

What determines the price of the home you can buy?

It’s this 👇
👉 Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)
This is how lenders measure how much of your monthly income is already committed to debt.

💡 Example:
If you make $6,000/month and have $2,400 in total monthly debt (including your new house payment)…
👉 Your DTI = 40%

Why it matters:
✔️ Too high = lower approval odds
✔️ Impacts how much house you qualify for
✔️ Can affect your interest rate options

The good news?
Most people don’t need to make huge changes — just smart ones:
• Pay off or reduce small balances
• Avoid taking on new debt before buying
• Structure the loan the right way

I walk clients through this every day so there are no surprises when it’s time to buy.
If you’re even thinking about buying this year, let’s run the numbers early.

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522

04/08/2026

When you’re preparing to buy, it’s not just about what works today — it’s about making sure it still works down the road. Looking at how different scenarios could impact your monthly payment can help you avoid surprises later on. The goal is to set you up with a loan that feels sustainable, not stressful. 🏡 If you want to walk through the numbers and see what feels comfortable for you, send me a message, and we can map it out together.

Chad McDowell
Loan Officer NMLS #172223
[email protected]
206-900-4522