Joanna Sharp - NMLS #132031 - SNMC

06/05/2026

05/19/2026

NAR PENDING HOME SALES REPORT

Month Over Month
1.4% increase in pending home sales
Gains in the Northeast, Midwest and West; decline in the South

Year Over Year
3.2% increase in pending home sales
Gains in the Midwest, South and West; decline in the Northeast

Midwest
3.0% increase month over month
2.7% increase year over year

“Buyers are coming out with cautious optimism despite increasing economic uncertainty and a slight rise in mortgage rates,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Demand will easily be even higher once mortgage rates retreat to the levels they were at earlier this year.”

05/15/2026

05/13/2026

MIDWEEK MARKET UPDATE: ⁉
Today’s inflation report came in hotter🔥 than expected, which means businesses are paying more and those higher costs may soon get passed on to regular consumers. A big reason is rising ⬆ energy prices, especially oil 🛢, which is making transportation and production more expensive across the board. Because of that, investors now think interest rates could stay high for longer 🤔, so Treasury yields rose and mortgage pricing got worse.😦 The main takeaway: inflation is still a big problem, and rates could keep moving higher, so locking a rate now 🔒may be the safer move. 👍🏻

05/11/2026

WEEKLY MARKET NEWSLETTER as of May 11, 2026

JOBS UPDATE: Economy Still Standing Strong 💪
Last week’s jobs report showed the economy is still creating jobs, but at a slower, healthier pace. Unemployment stayed low, and wage growth cooled a bit. That’s important because it tells us the economy isn’t overheating—but it’s also not rolling over. For housing, this means buyers still have jobs and income, even if things feel a little less frothy than a year or two ago.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RATES ❓
When you combine steady job growth with higher oil prices and ongoing global tensions, it explains why mortgage rates aren’t falling quickly. Higher oil prices push inflation higher, and steady employment gives the Federal Reserve room to wait. From a borrower’s perspective, this is the classic “higher for longer” setup: no spike in rates, but no fast relief either. Stability—not big moves—has been the theme.

THIS WEEK: Inflation and the Consumer 📈 🧔‍♀️ 🧑‍🦰
This week is all about inflation and spending. We’ll get the CPI inflation report, which is expected to show prices still above the Fed’s comfort zone at 3.7% year‑over‑year (2.7% core inflation). We’ll also see Retail Sales, which will tell us how strong the consumer really is. As long as consumers keep spending and inflation stays elevated, the Fed can afford to be patient—and that keeps mortgage rates range‑bound rather than dropping quickly.

05/05/2026

VA Changes that went into Effect May 1, 2026. POST 1978 is the KEY!!

05/04/2026

Weekly Market Newsletter as of May 4, 2026

LAST WEEK: The Fed Hits Pause 🛑 🫸🏻
Last week, the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged. While that was widely expected, the Fed made it clear they’re not ready to cut rates yet. Inflation is easing, but it’s not falling fast enough, and consumer spending and jobs remain strong. Rising oil prices are also part of the picture, since higher energy costs can push inflation back up. Together, that gives the Fed a reason to stay patient and keep rates where they are for now. ❓

THIS WEEK: More Uncertainty in the Markets 🤔
Markets opened the week more cautious as geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices higher. Higher oil tends to raise inflation and make the Fed less comfortable cutting rates. As a result, interest rates have moved higher and stock futures are down. The Fed is watching energy prices closely, because sustained increases can slow economic growth later while keeping inflation elevated in the near term — a tricky mix for policymakers. 🔃

WEEK AHEAD: Jobs and Services Data Matter 💻
Aside from the Strait of Hormuz, the focus this week is on key economic reports, including the ISM Services Index, job openings data, and Friday’s April employment report. These are important because the Fed is watching the job market and service‑sector inflation closely. If jobs remain strong and inflation pressures persist, rates are likely to stay higher for longer. Signs of cooling, however, would help set the stage for lower rates later this year.
💪🏻=Rates ⬆️ OR 🤕=Rates 🔃