Ernesto The LO

04/17/2026

Forging a new path and taking everything I’ve learned from my time at CTC with me.

The loan officers and processing team were a constant source of knowledge and support. I’m better because of the people I was surrounded by.

Chad, Jason, and Nick, your support has left a lasting impact on my career. I’ve grown beyond what I thought I was capable of. My network expanded, opportunities showed up, and I was challenged in the best ways.

Career decisions are rarely simple. Sometimes you move because you’re unhappy, unchallenged, or unsupported. Other times, you move because you’ve been pushed to grow and want to see how far that growth can take you.

This was the latter.

Leaving a great group of people is never easy. The decision was difficult because I was happy, supported, and challenged every day.

This isn’t meant to be a sappy post. Just an acknowledgment that a big part of my success is tied to that team.

Thank you, fellas.

🤙🏼

04/03/2026

04/01/2026

Pack-Out

The process isn’t pretty.

After 30 days of waiting for the desk adjuster to stop dragging their feet, we can finally start looking for a place to stay. It took a few threats of reporting them to the state to get a call back and move things forward.

Thank you to everyone who has offered us a place to stay. We have several options lined up and truly appreciate it.

Speaking of places to stay… does anyone know if there’s a loophole that allows a Disney cruise to be considered lodging?

Asking for a friend.

🏠 🚽 💦🌊

03/27/2026

Found myself going through my mortgage rate notes from July 2021. We had it pretty good, didn’t we? 😭

We may never see rates like that again. That wasn’t normal, it was an anomaly driven by an emergency.

My job now is simple. Help you secure the best possible rate in today’s market, not chase yesterday’s.

03/25/2026

Mortgage Rate Update 03/25/26

03/20/2026

The beatings will continue until moral improves.

03/17/2026

Can’t sell your home? Congrats… you might be a landlord now.

We’re seeing a shift in the housing market, and Texas is right in the middle of it.

Houston (4.2%), Austin (4.1%), and San Antonio (3.9%) are all ranking among the top metros for what’s being called “accidental landlords.”

Here’s what’s happening:

Sellers list their home → don’t get their price → instead of cutting, they rent it out and wait.

Sounds strategic… but it comes with ripple effects.

More rental inventory = more competition on rents
More stale listings = more motivated sellers
More motivated sellers = opportunity for buyers

What this means in Texas:

• Houston
Inventory is building. Sellers are feeling it. If a home has been sitting or bouncing on/off market, there’s likely room to negotiate.

• Austin
One of the most rate-sensitive markets. When pricing power weakens here, it shows quickly. Buyers have leverage if they’re paying attention.

• San Antonio
More subtle, but the trend is there. Increased rental supply means sellers may pivot faster than expected.

The takeaway:

This isn’t a sign of a housing crash. It’s more of a shift in market dynamics.

In some cases, when sellers aren’t achieving their target price, they’re choosing to rent their home instead of selling at a discount. That adds supply to the rental market and can signal softer pricing conditions in certain areas.

For buyers, this can create opportunities, especially on homes that have been on the market longer or have seen price adjustments.

For sellers, it reinforces the importance of pricing strategically from the start to stay competitive in today’s environment.

Source: https://www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/accidental-landlords-are-rising-in-housing-markets-where-sellers-have-lost-pricing-power

03/13/2026

Mortgage Rate Reality Check

Two weeks ago we caught the bottom.

This VA refinance was locked at 5.125% for a veteran client while the market briefly dipped into the 5s.

Loan amount: $642,700
Principal & Interest: $3,499
Total payment (est.): $3,837

That moment didn’t last long.

The escalation in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher, which feeds directly into inflation expectations. Inflation pressure pushes bond yields higher, and when bond yields move up, mortgage rates follow.

So yes… rates are higher today than they were two weeks ago.

But this is exactly how the rate market behaves.

It does not move in a straight line.
It moves in waves.

There are periods where you lock opportunity, and periods where you wait for the next one.

Is this the end of 5% mortgage rates?

No.

The market is cyclical. Volatility creates windows. When those windows open, you move.

For this veteran client, that window was two weeks ago.

If you purchased in the past few years or are sitting in the mid-6s or higher, it may be worth taking a look at the numbers.

Sometimes the opportunity shows up quietly.

03/12/2026

Mortgage Rate Update: 03/11/2026

Conventional 30 year rates have increased by .375%

This is why we can’t have nice things.

03/05/2026

Behold: Water Remediation.

They don’t tell you much about being a kid parent. A lot of it is on-the-job training. For example, they don’t tell you about the piles and piles of laundry, the ridiculous amount of yogurt pouches consumed daily, or the ever-growing accumulation of kid-related “stuff.”

What they definitely don’t tell you is that before you leave the house to run errands, you should probably make sure the toilet actually flushes when your soon-to-be 5-year-old uses the potty.

Clogged toilet -> broken flush handle -> water overflow.

Claims.

This is one of those moments where I sing the praises of homeowners insurance.

Pardon the mess and bear with us as we juggle this unexpected homeowner event.

11/26/2025

✨ Houston buyers are closing out 2025 with strategy

🏡 Builder incentives are helping stretch budgets, lower monthly payments, and move sooner than planned.

📝 This week’s CQ Real Estate Blog breaks down how incentives are turning into real opportunities as the market shifts.

Catch the full blog on our website. Link in bio. 🔗🏡