Daniel Pesta, NMLS #357972 - EPiQ Lending

Daniel Pesta, NMLS #357972 - EPiQ Lending Find the best mortgage rates today with our expert team and advanced mortgage calculator. Daniel It's about trust, education, and communication.

With over 20 years of experience in mortgage lending, I’ve had the opportunity to work in every part of the process, from closing and funding to processing and originating loans. Since moving to Arizona in 2006, I’ve been helping individuals and families across the state buy and refinance homes with confidence and clarity. I joined the Epiq Lending/CMG team in January 2019 and am proud to offer to

ols and programs that give my clients a competitive edge, including same-day pre-approvals, down payment assistance, the HomeFundIt program, and our powerful All-In-One loan. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, and it's about more than just paperwork. I’ve helped thousands of families through this process, and I make it my mission to deliver a positive, personalized experience every time. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned investor, or somewhere in between, I’ll take the time to understand your goals, explain your options, and be there for you when you're ready to take the next step. Most of our loans close in 21 to 30 days, but we’ve also helped clients close in under 15 when needed. I’m licensed in Arizona and work with clients throughout the state. Let’s connect when you’re ready to move forward. I’d love to help you navigate your homeownership journey. NMLS # 357972
Arizona Mortgage Banker License # LO-0916571
https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
https://www.epiqlending.com/corporate/licensing
EVO Home Loans, LLC, dba EPIQ Lending is an equal housing opportunity lender
Company NMLS 1936984

🏡 WEEKLY MARKET UPDATE | Tuesday, September 8I hope everyone had a nice long Labor Day weekend! 🇺🇸Here’s what’s happenin...
09/08/2026

🏡 WEEKLY MARKET UPDATE | Tuesday, September 8

I hope everyone had a nice long Labor Day weekend! 🇺🇸

Here’s what’s happening with mortgage rates as we head into the second week of September:

📈 Rates are starting the week slightly higher, but they remain relatively close to last week’s levels. The big story is that the August jobs report came in much stronger than expected, which puts additional pressure on mortgage rates.

🔑 WHAT REALTORS NEED TO KNOW

Strong jobs = pressure on rates

The August employment report was significantly stronger than expected:

• Nonfarm payrolls increased 162,000, versus expectations of just 55,000
• Private payrolls increased 127,000, versus expectations of 45,000
• Unemployment held steady at 4.1%
• Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% month-over-month and 3.1% year-over-year

The labor market is showing more resilience than many expected, which makes it harder for the Fed to justify cutting rates and keeps upward pressure on mortgage rates.

🏠 The housing market is still showing signs of demand

Mortgage applications increased 0.8% last week, with purchase applications up 2%. That’s encouraging, especially considering where rates are currently sitting.

At the same time, housing supply continues to improve in many markets, giving buyers more opportunities and potentially more negotiating leverage than they had during the ultra-competitive years.

📊 THIS WEEK COULD BE IMPORTANT

We have two major inflation reports coming this week:

Thursday: Producer Price Index (PPI)
Friday: Consumer Price Index (CPI)

These numbers will be closely watched because they could influence expectations for the Fed’s upcoming meeting.

If inflation comes in hotter than expected, we could see additional pressure on mortgage rates. If we get a meaningful downside surprise, we could see some relief.

🌎 Oil prices are another wildcard

Brent crude is approaching $100/barrel, and continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could push energy prices higher. Higher oil prices can create additional inflation concerns, which is not what the mortgage bond market wants to see right now.

🔒 MY TAKE

For buyers who are under contract or planning to close in the next few weeks, I'm firmly in the "lock 'em" camp.

There are simply more potential catalysts for rates to move higher than lower right now.

That doesn't mean rates are going to suddenly skyrocket. It means that, based on the current data, waiting for a meaningful improvement in rates carries more risk than it did a couple of weeks ago.

And remember...

The rate today isn't necessarily the rate you keep forever. The strategy is to get your buyer into the right home with the right payment today, then look for opportunities to improve that payment down the road.

If you have a buyer sitting on the fence because they're waiting for rates to drop, let's run the numbers. Sometimes the opportunity is in the purchase price, seller concessions, a temporary buydown, or a different loan structure rather than simply waiting for the headline rate to fall.

📲 If you have a buyer who wants to know what today's market actually looks like for their specific situation, send them my way. I'm happy to run the numbers and give them a real strategy rather than just another rate quote.

09/01/2026

Whether facing hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, or wildfires, preparation can help protect your home and family. Secure outdoor items, clear gutters and debris, protect important documents, identify a safe shelter area, review your insurance coverage, enable local emergency alerts, and know your evacuation routes.
A little preparation today can make a big difference when the unexpected happens.

📈 MORTGAGE MARKET UPDATE | Rates Under PressureGood morning, Realtors! Here’s your weekly mortgage market update as we h...
08/31/2026

📈 MORTGAGE MARKET UPDATE | Rates Under Pressure

Good morning, Realtors! Here’s your weekly mortgage market update as we head into the final days of August.

Unfortunately, the mortgage market took a step backward last week. Mortgage rates moved higher, and the short-term outlook has become more challenging as the bond market reacts to rising oil prices, renewed geopolitical concerns, and a more hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve.

Here are the biggest things I’m watching:

🏠 Housing prices remain positive, but appreciation is slowing.
The FHFA index was flat in June, with annual appreciation at 2.3%. The Case-Shiller 20-city index showed a little more strength, with prices up 2.1% year-over-year. Translation: we're not seeing a major decline in home values, but price appreciation is much more moderate than it was a few years ago.

📉 New home sales dropped 10.5% in July, falling to a 607,000 annualized pace. Higher rates and affordability are still creating challenges for buyers.

💼 The labor market remains surprisingly resilient.
Initial jobless claims fell to 203,000 and continuing claims dropped to 1.778 million. That's important because a stronger labor market gives the Fed less reason to cut rates.

📊 Economic growth is slowing.
Q2 GDP was revised to a 1.5% annualized pace, down from 2.1% in Q1. Personal income and consumer spending both increased in July, while core PCE inflation remained at 3.3% year-over-year.

📉 Mortgage applications slipped another 1%.
Purchase applications were down 0.3% and refinances fell 2%. Buyers are still in the market, but affordability continues to be a major factor.

🔑 THE BIG STORY FOR RATES

The biggest change right now is the market's perception of the Fed.

After Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's comments at Jackson Hole, the market is increasingly pricing in the possibility of additional Fed rate hikes. At the same time, oil prices are moving higher because of renewed Middle East tensions.

That combination is not friendly to mortgage rates.

The 10-year Treasury is currently around 4.76%, its highest level of the year, while mortgage bonds have also weakened significantly.

🎯 MY TAKE FOR REALTORS

For the past few weeks, I've been comfortable cautiously floating loans and looking for opportunities to improve pricing.

That has changed.

For buyers who are under contract and closing in the next couple of weeks, I'm firmly in the "protect the loan" camp right now. There isn't a clear catalyst on the horizon that makes me confident rates will improve significantly in the short term.

Could rates come back down? Absolutely.

But right now, the risk/reward doesn't favor betting on it.

And here's the conversation I'd encourage you to have with buyers:

Don't wait for the perfect rate. Buy the right house at the right price, structure the loan correctly, and remember that you can always refinance if the market gives us a better opportunity later.

The buyer who waits six months hoping rates drop could potentially face a different home price, less negotiating power, or lose the house they really wanted.

The market doesn't require buyers to love today's rate. It requires the payment and overall deal to make sense.

If you have a buyer who is stuck on the sidelines because of rates, send them my way. I'll run the numbers, show them the options, and help them determine whether waiting actually makes financial sense.

🏡 Realtors, let's get your buyers positioned to win in this market.

Have a great week!

Closing day is exciting, but a quick 5-minute phone call can help keep last-minute surprises off the table. 📞🏡A few ques...
08/25/2026

Closing day is exciting, but a quick 5-minute phone call can help keep last-minute surprises off the table. 📞🏡

A few questions now can make for a much smoother closing day. 🔑✨
Have questions about what to expect before closing? Reach out. We’re here to help!

📈 Mortgage Market Update: Rates Finally Stabilize, But Volatility Is BackGood morning, Realtors! 👋Mortgage rates moved s...
08/24/2026

📈 Mortgage Market Update: Rates Finally Stabilize, But Volatility Is Back

Good morning, Realtors! 👋

Mortgage rates moved slightly lower last week, but this week is starting with a very different tone. After a few weeks of relative stability, rising oil prices and renewed concerns surrounding the Iran conflict have pushed bond yields higher and put upward pressure on mortgage rates.

Here’s what I’m watching:

🏠 Housing demand is showing signs of life.
Mortgage applications increased 3.6%, with purchase applications up 3% and refinances up 5%. That tells me buyers are still active, even with rates where they are.

📉 Existing home sales slipped 1.7% in July, but the 4.06 million annualized pace was still better than expected.

📊 Inflation came in largely as expected. CPI increased 0.1% monthly and 3.4% annually, while core inflation eased slightly to 2.5% year-over-year. That is encouraging, but not enough by itself to push rates substantially lower.

💼 The labor market remains relatively resilient. Continuing claims fell to 1.777 million, while initial claims rose modestly to 209,000.

🛍️ Consumer spending showed some weakness. Retail sales fell 0.6% in July, while consumer sentiment also declined in August.

🔑 What does this mean for buyers?

The big story right now is oil and geopolitical risk.

Mortgage bonds have been under pressure as oil prices climb, and that has caused a meaningful shift in the short-term rate outlook. The 10-year Treasury is now around 4.73%, its highest level in roughly a year, and mortgage bonds are also weakening.

My take: This is a market where I would be more focused on protecting a good rate than trying to perfectly time the bottom.

For buyers who are ready to move forward, I wouldn't let the fear of "what if rates come down?" keep them from making a move that works today. If rates improve later, there may be opportunities to refinance. But you can't refinance a loan you never closed.

For loans closing in the next 30-60 days, I'm leaning toward locking rather than gambling on a major improvement. The next few weeks could bring more volatility, especially if oil prices continue climbing or tensions escalate.

The good news? We're still talking about rates in the mid-6% range, not a runaway market. And if the geopolitical situation improves, we could see some of this pressure reverse.

As always, if you have a buyer who is sitting on the fence because of rates, send them my way. Let's look at the actual payment, the options available today, and determine whether waiting really makes sense for their situation.

📲 Realtors, I'm always happy to run a quick scenario for your buyers or help you structure an offer around today's market.

Let's have a great week! 🏡

Gen Z 🤝 Mortgage JargonWe’re back with Part 2 of translating mortgage talk into terms that just make sense. 👀🏡Because un...
08/21/2026

Gen Z 🤝 Mortgage Jargon
We’re back with Part 2 of translating mortgage talk into terms that just make sense. 👀🏡
Because understanding home financing shouldn’t require its own dictionary.
Stay tuned... there’s plenty more jargon to decode. 🔑✨

📈 Mortgage Market Update: Rates Finally Stabilize, But Volatility Is BackGood morning, Realtors! 👋Mortgage rates moved s...
08/18/2026

📈 Mortgage Market Update: Rates Finally Stabilize, But Volatility Is Back
Good morning, Realtors! 👋
Mortgage rates moved slightly lower last week, but this week is starting with a very different tone. After a few weeks of relative stability, rising oil prices and renewed concerns surrounding the Iran conflict have pushed bond yields higher and put upward pressure on mortgage rates.
Here’s what I’m watching:
🏠 Housing demand is showing signs of life.
Mortgage applications increased 3.6%, with purchase applications up 3% and refinances up 5%. That tells me buyers are still active, even with rates where they are.
📉 Existing home sales slipped 1.7% in July, but the 4.06 million annualized pace was still better than expected.
📊 Inflation came in largely as expected. CPI increased 0.1% monthly and 3.4% annually, while core inflation eased slightly to 2.5% year-over-year. That is encouraging, but not enough by itself to push rates substantially lower.
💼 The labor market remains relatively resilient. Continuing claims fell to 1.777 million, while initial claims rose modestly to 209,000.
🛍️ Consumer spending showed some weakness. Retail sales fell 0.6% in July, while consumer sentiment also declined in August.
🔑 What does this mean for buyers?
The big story right now is oil and geopolitical risk.
Mortgage bonds have been under pressure as oil prices climb, and that has caused a meaningful shift in the short-term rate outlook. The 10-year Treasury is now around 4.73%, its highest level in roughly a year, and mortgage bonds are also weakening.
My take: This is a market where I would be more focused on protecting a good rate than trying to perfectly time the bottom.
For buyers who are ready to move forward, I wouldn't let the fear of "what if rates come down?" keep them from making a move that works today. If rates improve later, there may be opportunities to refinance. But you can't refinance a loan you never closed.
For loans closing in the next 30-60 days, I'm leaning toward locking rather than gambling on a major improvement. The next few weeks could bring more volatility, especially if oil prices continue climbing or tensions escalate.
The good news? We're still talking about rates in the high-6% to low 7% range, not a runaway market. And if the geopolitical situation improves, we could see some of this pressure reverse.
As always, if you have a buyer who is sitting on the fence because of rates, send them my way. Let's look at the actual payment, the options available today, and determine whether waiting really makes sense for their situation.
📲 Realtors, I'm always happy to run a quick scenario for your buyers or help you structure an offer around today's market.
Let's have a great week! 🏡

Address

3530 South Val Vista Drive
Gilbert, AZ
85297

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14804587807

Website

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