Leather Banks -Mortgage Loan Originator Nmls#1767121

06/15/2026

I’m happy to announce that I’ve joined Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.! I can’t wait to work with you. Contact me today.

05/27/2026

📊 Morning Market Update — 👇

Mortgage rates improved a little late last week and yesterday because investors became hopeful that progress was being made toward ending the conflict involving Iran and reopening a major global shipping route called the Strait of Hormuz.

Why does that matter?
That area is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. If it reopens safely, oil prices could continue dropping — which would help inflation cool down over time.

There were reports over the weekend that the U.S. and Iran may be close to an agreement, and that pushed oil prices lower. Oil for December delivery dropped back below $80/barrel.

BUT… new U.S. military strikes in Iran are now creating uncertainty again and threatening that possible ceasefire.

Right now, financial markets seem to believe a peace deal could still happen despite the latest military action.

🏡 What this means for mortgage rates:
The 10-year Treasury is sitting around 4.48%, and if a final peace agreement happens, mortgage rates could improve because bond markets would likely react positively.

However…
Even if the conflict calms down, things probably won’t return to normal overnight. Shipping companies may still charge higher “war-risk” fees for vessels traveling through the region, which could keep some inflation pressure in place for a while.

📈 The next big thing markets are watching:
Tomorrow’s PCE inflation report.

This is the Federal Reserve’s FAVORITE inflation measurement and could heavily influence future rate decisions.

✔️ If inflation comes in lower than expected → markets may react positively and rates could improve.
❌ If inflation comes in hotter than expected → mortgage rates could move higher again.

Bottom line:
The market is still extremely headline-driven right now.
Oil prices, inflation reports, and global tensions are all directly impacting mortgage rates day-to-day.

If you’re trying to figure out whether now is the right time to buy, refinance, or wait — message me and let’s talk strategy 💬🏠

— Loan Lady Leather

05/21/2026

"Attention to detail from Leather, her communication and just general assisstance and patience, my wife and I are first time home buyers and i cannot express how thankful I am for her, she walked us through everything and answered all questions."

"Attention to detail from Leather, her communication and just general assistance and patience, my wife and I are first time home buyers and i cannot express how thankful I am for her, she walked us through everything and answered all questions."

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the women who make a house feel like home. 💕🏡

To the moms juggling work, school drop-offs, bedtime stories, soccer practice, bills, and everything in between — today is for YOU.

As a local mortgage loan officer, one of the greatest privileges of my job is helping families create stability, memories, and a place to grow together. A home is more than four walls… it’s where babies take first steps, where holidays are celebrated, and where love lives every single day.

Whether you’re a mom, bonus mom, grandma, dog mom, or the one everyone counts on like a mom — thank you for all you do.

Wishing you a day filled with love, rest, and the people who matter most. 🌷

Happy Mother’s Day from your local mortgage loan officer, Leather Banks 💕

05/08/2026

🏡READY TO STOP RENTING & START OWNING? ✨

It’s time to turn your homeownership goals into a REAL plan 🔑💼

Join us for an exclusive, high-impact workshop designed to give you the knowledge, strategy, and connections you need to secure your home!

🔥 Keys to Homeownership: Home Buyers Workshop

Hosted by Legendary Expansion Services

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026

⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

📍 Legendary Expansion Services

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
✔️ How to get your credit approval-ready
✔️ Understanding your buying power 💰
✔️ First-time home buyer game plan
✔️ Loan options + financing breakdown 🏦
✔️ What you need to get APPROVED ✅

🌟 Featuring Industry Experts:

👩🏽‍💼 Realtor: Shakinah Simeona-Lee
🏦 Mortgage Expert: Leather Banks -Mortgage Loan Originator Nmls #1767121

You’re not just getting information…
You’re getting real guidance from professionals who do this every day.

🚨 THIS IS FOR YOU IF:

✔️ You’re tired of renting
✔️ You want to buy but don’t know where to start
✔️ You’ve been denied before and want a plan
✔️ You’re READY to level up into ownership

💬 Spots are LIMITED!

📲 Call/Text: 336-823-2008

👉 Comment “HOME” or DM to reserve your seat

✨ This isn’t just a workshop…

This is CONNECTION + STRATEGY + EX*****ON.

Your keys are closer than you think 🔑💫

05/05/2026

💗 Market Update (and a little real talk) 💗

Mortgage rates are feeling upward pressure today because bond markets are selling off. The 10-year Treasury — the key benchmark for home loans — just hit its highest point in a year at 4.46%.

Here’s what’s driving it:
✨ Oil prices have jumped to $83/barrel (a signal inflation may not be done yet)
✨ U.S. national debt now exceeds the size of our entire economy (which makes bond investors nervous)
✨ The Fed is signaling they’re not in a rush to cut rates

💡 What this means for buyers:
Rate cuts aren’t coming to the rescue anytime soon. If you’ve been sitting on the fence waiting for rates to drop… you may be waiting longer than expected.

And keep an eye on Friday’s jobs report — if the labor market stays strong, we could see rates push even higher.

📩 If you’re trying to decide whether to buy now or wait, let’s talk through your strategy. There’s still opportunity — it just requires the right plan.

05/05/2026

🏡READY TO STOP RENTING & START OWNING? ✨

It’s time to turn your homeownership goals into a REAL plan 🔑💼

Join us for an exclusive, high-impact workshop designed to give you the knowledge, strategy, and connections you need to secure your home!

🔥 Keys to Homeownership: Home Buyers Workshop
Hosted by Legendary Expansion Services

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026

⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

📍 Legendary Expansion Services

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
✔️ How to get your credit approval-ready
✔️ Understanding your buying power 💰
✔️ First-time home buyer game plan
✔️ Loan options + financing breakdown 🏦
✔️ What you need to get APPROVED ✅

🌟 Featuring Industry Experts:

👩🏽‍💼 Realtor: Shakinah Simeona-Lee
🏦 Mortgage Expert: Leather Banks -Mortgage Loan Originator Nmls #1767121

You’re not just getting information…
You’re getting real guidance from professionals who do this every day.

🚨 THIS IS FOR YOU IF:

✔️ You’re tired of renting
✔️ You want to buy but don’t know where to start
✔️ You’ve been denied before and want a plan
✔️ You’re READY to level up into ownership

💬 Spots are LIMITED!

📲 Call/Text: 336-823-2008

👉 Comment “HOME” or DM to reserve your seat

✨ This isn’t just a workshop…

This is CONNECTION + STRATEGY + EX*****ON.

Your keys are closer than you think 🔑💫

04/28/2026

🏦 What’s happening with the Federal Reserve

This week might be Jerome Powell’s last meeting leading the Fed.
Kevin Warsh is expected to take over soon (pending approval).
Even though Powell technically stays through the end of the year, leadership is likely shifting soon.
💰 Big policy change to watch (this matters for rates)

The Fed owns a lot of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) from past stimulus efforts.
Warsh wants to slowly reduce those holdings over time.
👉 Why this matters:

When the Fed owns fewer mortgage bonds, there’s less support keeping mortgage rates low
If they shrink too fast, it could push rates higher
📊 Warsh’s view on inflation

He believes the way inflation is measured today is a bit misleading
He thinks it focuses too much on “temporary” things like:
Tariffs
War-driven energy prices
👉 But here’s the key takeaway:

Even if causes are “temporary,” inflation is still real
And markets will react to it no matter what the Fed says
📈 Where rates are right now

The 10-year Treasury (a key driver of mortgage rates) is at ~4.37% — the highest in about a month
It’s been bouncing between 4.24% – 4.40%
⛽ Oil = HUGE driver right now

Oil prices have been around or above $80/barrel
That’s important because higher oil = higher inflation = higher rates
👉 What to watch:

If oil stays above $80, rates could keep rising
If oil drops to the low $70s, rates could improve
🌍 The wildcard: global tensions

The ongoing conflict with Iran is keeping oil prices elevated
No peace = higher oil = higher rates
Positive news (peace talks) = potential rate relief quickly
💡 Simple takeaway:

Rates right now are being driven less by the Fed…
and more by oil prices + global events

➡️ If oil stays high → expect pressure on mortgage rates
➡️ If oil drops → opportunity for rates to improve