michaelvrlaku

10/16/2026

🏡 Mortgage rates are easing, but why are buyers still backing out?

The latest NAF Insights report reveals a housing market that's adjusting as buyers become more cautious and sellers rethink their strategies.

📊 Here's what the numbers are telling us:

📉 7.33% — Recent 30-year fixed mortgage rate, down from a recent 7.61% reading.

🏠 15.76% — Share of pending home sales canceled, up 2.13 percentage points year over year.

💰 22.02% — Active listings with price reductions, averaging a 4.06% cut.

🔑 5.7% — Listings removed from the market without a sale.

So, what does this mean for you?

✅ Buyers: More price adjustments may create opportunities to negotiate.

✅ Sellers: Competitive pricing and realistic expectations matter more than ever.

✅ Realtors: Understanding local trends and discussing financing early can help keep transactions on track.

The market isn't frozen. It's adjusting.

And whether you're buying, selling, or advising clients, understanding these changes can help you make more informed decisions.

👉 Swipe through for my breakdown of this week's NAF Insights.

📲 Follow for weekly mortgage and housing market updates.

Michael Vrlaku | Branch Manager
NMLS #179115
New American Funding | Company NMLS #6606

10/07/2026

Mortgage lending is what I do—but it’s not the whole story.

A big part of my day is learning, testing better systems, talking real estate, and finding simpler ways to explain things that can feel unnecessarily complicated.

Technology changes. Markets change. The tools we use change.

But the part that matters most stays pretty simple: keep learning, communicate clearly, and put relationships first.

That mindset has shaped the way I approach this business—and there’s always something new to learn.

10/02/2026

There's something special about fall in New Jersey.

The mornings get a little cooler, the leaves start changing, and somehow that first cup of coffee just tastes even better.

It's a season that naturally slows things down. People spend more time outside, enjoy football weekends, visit local fall festivals or pumpkin patches, and start thinking about what they want the next chapter to look like.

For some, that means finding a new place to call home. For others, it's simply making time for the people who make a house feel like home.

However you're spending this season, I hope you get a chance to enjoy everything that makes fall in New Jersey so special. 🍂☕

09/23/2026

Video content takes time. And for a lot of Realtors, the hardest part isn’t coming up with something valuable to say.

It’s finding the time to get camera-ready, record, redo the takes, and repeat the process consistently.

That’s where AI can be useful.

Not as a replacement for your expertise or your voice—but as a way to remove some of the friction between having an idea and actually publishing it.

A simple workflow can help you take what you already know and turn it into video content without needing another recording session every time.

I broke the workflow down into a free guide for Realtors. It’s in my bio, or leave “GUIDE” below if you’d like a copy.

09/14/2026

Apparently I would’ve done just fine in 1985. 😎

The hair. The denim. The digital watch.
Honestly, I’m not sure which part is doing the most work here. 😂
AI sent me back to ’85 and I might not be ready to come back.

What do we think — keep the look or leave it in 1985? 👇

#1985

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day. 🇺🇸

Today is a good reminder that hard work matters—but so does making time to enjoy what you’ve worked for.

Whether you’re spending the long weekend with family, catching up with friends, or simply slowing things down for a day, I hope you get the chance to recharge.

Here’s to the people who keep showing up, building, serving, and moving forward every day.

Enjoy the well-earned break.

— Mike

09/04/2026

Labor Day weekend is a great time to relax.

It's also a great time to think about what's next.

Every year, I talk with buyers who use this long weekend to visit open houses, explore neighborhoods, or finally start planning their move before the busy fall market.

You don't need to have every answer today.

But having one conversation now can help you avoid weeks—or even months—of uncertainty later.

Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, or simply wondering what your options are, the best place to start is with a plan that's built around your goals, not someone else's timeline.

Enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends. And when you're ready to take the next step, I'll be here to help you build a strategy with confidence.

📩 Send me a message or visit the link in my bio to start the conversation.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

09/01/2026

One of the biggest challenges for homeowners isn't finding their next home.

It's figuring out how to move without feeling stuck.

I hear this question all the time:

"Do I have to sell my current home before I can buy my next one?"

The answer depends on your situation, but many homeowners are surprised to learn there are financing strategies that may allow qualified buyers to purchase their next home before selling their current one.

That means you can take your time preparing your existing home for the market instead of feeling pressured to move on someone else's timeline.

The goal isn't just buying another house.

It's making your next move with confidence and less stress.

If you're thinking about moving this year, let's talk through your options and build a strategy that fits your goals.

📩 Send me a message or visit the link in my bio to learn more.

08/21/2026

08/15/2026

The best homebuying decisions rarely start with finding the perfect house.

They start with having the right strategy.

Over the years, I've seen buyers spend months searching online before taking time to understand their financing options. When the right home finally comes along, they're forced to make decisions under pressure.

A better approach is to prepare first.

Know your budget. Understand your financing options. Have a plan before you start touring homes.

Programs like 𝗡𝗔𝗙 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 can help qualified buyers compete with greater confidence in today's market—but the real advantage is having a strategy before you need one.

The right preparation doesn't just help you buy a home. It helps you make better decisions every step of the way.

If you're planning to buy this year, let's talk through your options and build a strategy that fits your goals.

📩 Send me a message or visit the link in my bio to learn more.