Matthew Brady - Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS# 2006286

Helping you win in homeownership!
📍SC, NC, FL
NMLS # 2006286 📲803-322-8398

Success Lending, LLC – NMLS #2232431 | Success Lending is an Equal Housing Lender – This is not a commitment to lend - SuccessLending.com | www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

06/15/2026

Inflation just hit a three-year high and your clients are going to see that headline and feel nervous. Here is the good news you get to share with them right now.

Yes, the top number came in at 4.2 percent. That sounds alarming on its own. But the real story underneath that headline is significantly calmer than it appears. More than 60 percent of that increase came from one place: energy and gas prices. Strip those out and look at core inflation, the number the Federal Reserve watches most closely, and it rose just 2.9 percent for the year, which actually came in softer than experts were expecting. That is a very different picture from the headline number.

That is exactly why the Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady at next week's meeting. The underlying data does not support an emergency response and the Fed knows the difference between headline noise and structural inflation.

When a client brings you that scary headline, you now get to be the calm and trusted voice who walks them through what is actually happening behind the number. That is exactly the kind of guidance that turns a nervous buyer into a confident one who is ready to make a smart decision rather than freeze in place.

The headline was loud. The underlying data was not. Follow me for more on what the headlines actually mean for housing and mortgage rates.

06/12/2026

Here is your mortgage rate update heading into the weekend in under 30 seconds.

Rates are holding fairly steady and remain below 7 percent which is encouraging news for buyers who are actively shopping. Markets have reacted positively this week as signs of a potential peace agreement in the Middle East have helped ease oil prices and reduce inflation concerns. That geopolitical relief has been a meaningful contributor to the relative stability we are seeing in the bond market and by extension in mortgage rates.

The next big event to watch is next week's Federal Reserve meeting, which will be the first meeting under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. No rate change is expected at this meeting but markets will be listening very closely to every word for any signals about what the Fed is thinking about the path ahead. The language and tone of the post-meeting statement and press conference could move markets even if the rate decision itself is a hold.

If you are shopping this weekend or if any of your clients are actively in the market, I am available for pre-approvals and second opinions. Reach out anytime.

06/09/2026

Here is your mortgage rate update for the week of June 8th in under 60 seconds.

Mortgage rates moved slightly higher last week following a stronger than expected jobs report. The economy added 172,000 jobs in May which tells markets that the labor market is still holding up well. Here is why that matters for your mortgage rate. As long as the job market remains strong the Federal Reserve has little reason to cut rates. That is a major reason why even though rates are below 7 percent they are still hovering around the 6.5 percent range and have not moved meaningfully lower.

Looking ahead, the biggest report this week is inflation data dropping on Wednesday. If inflation comes in lower than expected rates have room to improve. If it does not, expect more of the same. Markets are also continuing to watch the Middle East situation closely which remains a genuine wild card for interest rate direction.

Bottom line: rates are still below 7 percent which is the good news. But do not expect major improvement until inflation data and global events give markets a clearer direction to move in. I will keep watching everything closely and keep you updated on what actually matters.

Follow to stay up to date on everything mortgage and housing related.

06/02/2026

Here is your mortgage market update in under 60 seconds and there is finally some genuinely positive news worth sharing.

Mortgage bonds have improved as reports surface that the US and Iran are working toward a 60-day ceasefire extension. That extension also includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical shipping routes for global oil supply. Here is why that matters for your mortgage rate. When conflict disrupts oil supplies, energy prices tend to rise, which fuels inflation and puts upward pressure on mortgage rates. The possibility of a longer ceasefire and restored shipping routes calms markets and improves mortgage bonds, which is exactly what we are seeing right now.

Mortgage rates will still be influenced by inflation data, economic reports, and Federal Reserve policy. But reducing geopolitical uncertainty is a meaningful move in the right direction. For buyers and sellers, this means we may be moving toward a more stable interest rate environment and that makes planning and decision-making a little bit easier over the coming weeks.

I am keeping a close eye on this market and will keep you updated as things develop. If you want to make sure you do not miss anything, let me know and I will add you to my email list.

06/01/2026

Here is your mortgage rate update for the week of June 1st in under 60 seconds.

Last week was one of the calmer weeks we have seen in a while. Inflation came in a little better than expected, labor data stayed steady, and markets started pricing in the possibility that tensions could ease in the Middle East. That combination helped improve mortgage rates with the average 30-year fixed ending the week around 6.56 percent. A solid finish heading into the weekend.

But over the weekend that optimism faded quickly. Renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher which sent mortgage bonds lower and wiped out all of Friday's improvements. We are essentially back to where we started.

This week is jobs week. JOLTS, ADP, jobless claims, and Friday's jobs report are all on deck. Normally these reports would be the primary market drivers. But right now geopolitical headlines are firmly in the driver's seat. Bottom line: volatility is back. If tensions ease, rates can improve. If they escalate, rates could move higher quickly.

I will be watching the news closely so you do not have to. Follow me for the most up-to-date information and reach out if you want to talk through what this means for your specific situation.

Most people think the hardest part of buying a home is qualifying.Honestly, for a lot of buyers, the hardest part is jus...
05/28/2026

Most people think the hardest part of buying a home is qualifying.

Honestly, for a lot of buyers, the hardest part is just getting started because they assume they are “not ready yet.”

Kind of like watching your kid stare up at a rock wall that looks way bigger from the ground.

One thing most people do not realize:
You do not need perfect timing, perfect credit, or 20% down to buy a home.

There are buyers getting into homes right now with:
• 3% down conventional loans
• Down payment assistance
• Seller-paid closing costs or rate buydowns
• Co-borrower strategies to help qualify

The buyers who usually win are not the ones with the “perfect” situation.

They are the ones who actually start the conversation early enough to make a plan.

Most of the time, there is a path forward long before people think there is.

That is why I spend more time helping people prepare than pushing them to buy right now.

And yes…as you can see Vera made it to the top.

05/27/2026

Something shifted in the housing market over the last 60 days and most people have not noticed it yet. But you should.

Buyers are quietly starting to come back in. Pending home sales have posted three straight months of gains. Signed contracts are up over 3 percent from last year and purchase applications are running 8 percent higher than this same point last year. This is not one busy weekend or a random spike in activity. This is a real and building shift in buyer behavior that is just getting started.

The wait-and-see crowd is slowly turning into the active buyer crowd and that matters enormously for everyone still on the sidelines. Once more buyers start jumping back into the market the leverage that exists right now can disappear quickly. More competition means fewer concessions, less negotiating room, and more pressure on prices. The window that buyers currently have is real but it is not permanent.

At the same time sellers who wait too long could find themselves listing into a market with more inventory and more competition from other sellers. Timing matters on both sides.

The people who win in real estate are almost never the ones who react late. They are the ones paying attention early, getting pre-approved, and making smart moves before everyone else catches on. If you have buyers or sellers sitting on the sidelines right now, this is probably a very good time to start that conversation. Reach out and let's talk through what this shift means for your situation specifically.

05/27/2026

The rules for credit scores on mortgages just changed in a massive way, and this could genuinely be the news you have been waiting for.

On April 22nd, HUD, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac officially rolled out VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T for mortgage underwriting. This is the biggest credit scoring shakeup in 30 years and the implications for buyers who have been on the sidelines are significant. The new models now factor in on-time rent payments and 24-month credit trends rather than just a snapshot of your score on a single day. That is a genuine game changer. It rewards people who have been paying rent reliably for years and gives lenders a much fuller and more accurate picture of how you actually handle money over time.

An estimated 5 million previously rejected buyers could now qualify under these new models. If you have been told no in the past, this is the moment to circle back and get re-evaluated with fresh eyes. Even if your traditional score felt borderline, the new system may put you over the qualification line because consistent rent payments and steady payment history finally count toward your mortgage approval in a meaningful way.

Reach out and ask your loan officer to run your numbers under the new models. Follow me for more updates that can help put you in your next home.

05/26/2026

Here is your mortgage rate update for the week of May 25th in under 60 seconds.

Mortgage rates started the week a little lower and the reason is encouraging. Weekend headlines suggested the US and Iran are moving closer to a peace deal. The 10-year Treasury, which mortgage rates follow closely, dropped from 4.66 percent to 4.50 percent and markets reacted positively to that news. That is a meaningful move in a short period of time and buyers who have been watching rates should take notice.

That said, this does not mean rates are suddenly back to where they were before the conflict began. Inflation is still running hot, energy prices remain elevated, and several Fed members have hinted that additional rate hikes are still on the table if inflation does not cool. The most important thing to watch this week is whether the peace agreement actually holds. If tensions flare back up rates could become volatile again quickly.

The positive news is that mortgage spreads have continued to improve, which is helping keep rates lower than they would otherwise be given current conditions. That is a genuine tailwind worth appreciating even if it is not a permanent guarantee.

Drop your questions below and I will answer them. Follow me for weekly updates that keep you ahead of what is moving the market.

05/20/2026

You keep hearing the housing market is shifting in buyers' favor, but is it actually a good time to buy? Let's look at the real data and let the numbers speak for themselves.

A record 34 percent of sellers cut their list price in February, the highest we have seen in years. Inventory has now crossed pre-pandemic levels in many parts of the country, meaning buyers finally have genuine choices again rather than fighting over whatever happens to be available. And the lock-in effect that kept so many homeowners frozen in their low rate mortgages is officially easing, with more sub-5 percent rate holders deciding to list anyway.

Here is why all of that matters for you specifically. When sellers cut prices and inventory grows, buyers gain real negotiating power on things that often matter more than the headline price, including closing cost credits, rate buydowns, and repair concessions. Those savings can add up to thousands of dollars and meaningfully change your monthly payment. Less competition also means you can take your time, conduct proper inspections, and make a smart and informed decision instead of rushing into a bidding war and hoping for the best.

The buyers winning right now are the ones who are pre-approved, staying ready, and acting decisively when the right home appears. Follow me for more on how to use this shift to your full advantage.

Address

Charlotte Highway
Clover, SC
29710

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