Jeff Schlesinger | Mortgage Banker

06/13/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 6/12/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥

Mortgage rates moved lower this week, with average 30-year fixed rates reaching their best levels in more than a week and ending just 0.02% above the lowest levels we've seen in the past month.

The biggest driver continues to be market expectations around inflation and future economic conditions. As confidence improved this week, bond markets responded favorably, helping mortgage rates recover from the recent highs we saw in May.

While rates have improved, it's important to keep things in perspective. The past month's range still represents some of the highest rate levels we've seen in roughly 10 months. Even so, this week's improvement is a welcome sign after several weeks of volatility.

On the housing side, existing home sales rose +3.2% in May, reaching their highest level in five months. Inventory also increased +3.3%, giving buyers more options while helping affordability improve compared to last year.

Home prices continue to show strength as well, with the national median existing-home price reaching a record $429,300, marking the 35th consecutive month of year-over-year appreciation.

Bottom line: rates improved this week, housing activity remains surprisingly resilient, and buyers continue to adapt to the current market. As always, the best opportunities tend to go to those who are prepared and ready to act when conditions align.

If you’re curious what your numbers might look like today, whether you’re considering a refinance, purchase, or simply want to better understand your options, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

05/20/2026

There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing a client felt supported, informed, and cared for throughout the home financing process.

Reviews like this remind me why I love what I do. I’m incredibly grateful for the trust my clients place in me and I never take that responsibility lightly.

Thank you, Mandi, for your kind words and support. Helping great people achieve their goals is always the mission. 🙏🏡

📞 310.893.3390📧 [email protected]

Whether you’re purchasing, refinancing, or just exploring your options, I’m here to help guide you every step of the way.

05/01/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 5/01/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥
After last week’s unusually calm stretch, mortgage rates moved noticeably higher this week before finding some resistance late in the week.

Most of the increase happened Tuesday and Wednesday, with rates easing slightly on Thursday and Friday. Current top-tier 30-year fixed rates are still hovering in the mid-high 6% range (depending on property type), but above last week’s levels.

The biggest market driver remains energy prices and inflation expectations. When markets see rising costs and supply concerns, rates tend to move higher. When those concerns ease, rates usually improve. That pattern continued again this week.
We also had a Federal Reserve meeting, but no rate change was expected and none occurred. Markets were focused more on future policy language than this week’s announcement itself.

On the housing side, demand remains surprisingly resilient. Purchase applications rose again last week and are now +21% higher than the same time last year, showing that serious buyers are still active despite rate volatility. Refinance demand softened modestly after the recent improvement in rates.

Housing starts also rebounded +10.8%, another sign that builders are still responding to demand, even while future permits pulled back.

Bottom line: rates moved higher this week, but appear to have found some near-term resistance. Buyers are still buying, refinance opportunities still exist, and market conditions continue to reward timing and strategy.

If you’re curious what your refinance numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

04/24/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 4/24/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥

After several weeks of sharp movement, mortgage rates were unusually calm this week.

In fact, rates stayed within a very narrow 0.04% range since last Tuesday, making this one of the quietest weeks we’ve seen in quite some time. Current top-tier 30-year fixed rates remain around the 6.5% to 6.625% range, still near the best levels we’ve seen in over a month.

The market is clearly in a wait-and-see mode. With little major economic data this week, investors focused on headlines, corporate earnings, and next week’s Federal Reserve meeting. While no rate change is expected, markets will be listening closely for any signals about inflation and the path ahead.

The bigger picture remains the same: mortgage rates continue to respond to inflation expectations, economic data, and broader market sentiment. This week simply gave us a temporary pause from the volatility.

Bottom line: rates remain improved from the March highs, and this calmer stretch has created a more stable window for buyers and homeowners evaluating options. If you’ve been waiting for a less chaotic moment to review numbers, this may be it.

If you’re curious what your refinance numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

04/17/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 4/17/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥

Mortgage rates ended the week at their lowest levels in more than a month, which is welcome news after the volatility we saw in March.

Current top-tier 30-year fixed rates are around 6.29%, down modestly on the week. While the bond market suggested rates could have improved even more on Friday, lenders moved cautiously, which is common when markets shift quickly.

The bigger driver remains the same: global events and how they impact inflation expectations. As those concerns ease, rates have room to improve. If tensions rise again, rates could move back higher just as quickly.

Housing data also showed some softness this week. Builder confidence fell to a seven-month low as higher costs, affordability challenges, and economic uncertainty continue to weigh on the market.

Bottom line: rates are currently the best they’ve been in over a month, but this remains a fluid environment where timing matters. Opportunities exist for both buyers and homeowners considering a refinance.

If you’re curious what your refinance numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

04/03/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 4/03/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥

After a rough couple of weeks, mortgage rates finally moved in the right direction!

Since peaking around 6.64% on March 27th, rates have improved by roughly .25-.375%. That’s a meaningful shift, especially considering how quickly things moved higher in March.

If you saw headlines this week saying rates were still rising, as usual, those were based on delayed survey data and didn’t reflect where rates actually were in real time.

The bigger story remains the same. The Iran conflict and oil price volatility are still driving the market. Higher oil prices create inflation concerns, which push rates up, while at the same time raising concerns about a slowing economy, which can help bring rates back down.

This week, those forces balanced out, giving us a much-needed break from the recent spike.

We also saw a reminder that economic data still matters. A stronger-that-expected jobs report helped stabilize the market, and upcoming inflation data will be key in determining what happens next.

Bottom line: rates have improved, and while we’re not back to the lows from February, this is the first real sign of relief we’ve seen in a few weeks.

If you’re curious what your refinance numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

03/27/2026

💥 WEEK ENDING 3/27/26 - MARKET UPDATE 💥

The market remains completely focused on the war in Iran, and mortgage rates continue to react accordingly.

Normally, uncertainty like this would push rates lower as investors move into safer assets like bonds. But this time is different. The issue isn’t just uncertainty — it’s inflation.

With oil prices elevated and supply chains disrupted, inflation expectations are rising. That’s keeping pressure on rates and reducing the likelihood of any near-term Fed cuts.

Rates pushed to another 8-month high this week, briefly touching the high 6.7% range before improving slightly to around 6.64% by the end of the day. That kind of intraday movement is a good reminder of how volatile things are right now.

On the ground, higher rates have slowed refinance activity, but purchase business is still moving. I’m actually opening escrow on a new purchase right now with a 10-day loan and appraisal contingency and a 21-day close. Not only will we meet those timelines, we’ll likely be ready early. We move fast.

Bottom line: the environment is changing quickly, and timing matters more than ever. Even if things stabilize, it’s unlikely rates quickly return to where they were just a few weeks ago.

If you’re curious what your numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

03/13/2026

💥 Wrapping up my 1st month at Lendwise Mortgage 💥

Just two weeks ago we were seeing the best mortgage rates in over 3 years. Today, rates have climbed to roughly 7-month highs.

The primary driver right now is global instability pushing oil prices higher, which feeds inflation and puts upward pressure on interest rates. Unfortunately, this isn’t something the Fed can quickly fix, and even if tensions ease, it may take time for rates to improve meaningfully.

Despite the sudden rise, our activity has not slowed. My pipeline remains strong, with new refinance/pre-approval inquiries coming in every day.

Most of the loans we’re working on fall within conforming and high-balance limits, with an average loan size around $1.15M. Well-structured files in this range are currently receiving approvals in about 24–48 hours from submission, often with minimal conditions.

We love conforming loans, but we’ve also seen a surge in self-employed borrowers using bank-statement or asset-utilization programs. For clients with complex income structures, these options can actually be simpler than traditional underwriting, and rates are often still landing in the mid-to-high 6% range. We happen to be very good at assembling these types of loans as well.

Bottom line: even in a rising-rate environment, meaningful opportunities still exist. It just requires the right strategy and ex*****on.

Grateful for the continued trust and excited about the momentum.

If you’re curious what your numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

03/06/2026

Last week we saw some of the best mortgage rates we’ve seen in nearly 3 years. This week… we’re all over the road.

Markets are reacting to oil prices, inflation concerns, and a weaker than expected jobs report. Volatility like this can move rates around quickly.

The good news is there are still excellent opportunities out there if you’re working with someone who knows how to navigate the system and time things properly.

Personally, things have been off to an amazing start at LendWise Mortgage. In my first three weeks I’ve already funded 4 loans, have a strong pipeline building, and several borrowers are on track to save thousands.

Momentum feels great and I’m excited about what’s ahead.

If you’re curious what your numbers might look like today, or want to understand your purchasing power, I’m always happy to run the numbers and map out a smart strategy.

📞 310.893.3390
📧 [email protected]

And as always, when you call, you get me directly. No call centers, no handoffs. Just the same high-level service, responsiveness, and attention to detail my clients have relied on for years. I look forward to hearing from you.

Last week, it seemed interest rates could do no wrong. This week has been exactly the opposite.

02/27/2026

💥 JUST FUNDED 💥

$750,000 Cash Out Refinance
6.125% 30 Year Fixed | 6.169% APR

This was my first closing under the new banner and it was super smooth from start to finish.

Next up - One funding tomorrow, two more next week.

Rates are down.
My team is dialed in.
The pipeline is moving.
Momentum feels good!

If you are considering a refinance or a purchase, let’s run the numbers and see what makes sense.

📞 310-893-3390
📧 [email protected]

I answer all my own calls, and my service is excellent!