Erin Barrows-Branch Manager-Canopy Mortgage Nmls183957

05/20/2026

Big news this week as Kevin Warsh was just confirmed as the new chair of the Federal Reserve and everyone is asking the same question: what does this mean for mortgage rates?

Here is the honest answer. Warsh has historically voted in favor of reducing the federal funds rate, so having him at the helm is a positive development. But here is the truth most people miss.

The Fed actually controls short-term lending rates between banks. Mortgage rates are driven by the long-term bond market, inflation expectations, and investor sentiment. Those are completely different levers. A new Fed chair does not flip a switch and change your mortgage rate overnight.

Even with new leadership, rate decisions have to go through a 12-member committee. And with inflation currently sitting at 3.8%, the Fed will likely stay patient through Warsh's first few meetings rather than moving aggressively.

Here is the good news. Industry leaders are pointing to one word right now: stability. And stability is exactly what buyers need to confidently plan their next move. When the market is not whipping around from week to week, buyers can make informed decisions without feeling like the rug could be pulled out from under them.

If you want to know where rates are actually headed, watch the bond market. That is where the real story lives.

Follow me for more on what is actually moving the market right now.

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

The buyers who feel like they finally have leverage right now are not imagining it. The data is saying the same thing and agents who understand what it means are going to have a significant edge this spring.

Redfin just reported that sellers outnumbered buyers by approximately 43% in March. That is nearly the largest gap they have tracked since 2013. By every measure buyers have more negotiating power right now than they have had in years. And here is the part that makes this moment even more interesting: purchase mortgage applications jumped 10% last week and are running 14% ahead of last year. Real buyers with real financing are showing up and they are ready to move.

So what separates the agents who are going to win this spring from the ones who are going to watch it happen? The top producers are doing two things consistently. They are coaching buyers to negotiate from a position of genuine confidence because the data supports it. And they are coaching sellers to price and present with the discipline of 2019, not the expectations of 2021, because the market will reward that approach and punish the alternative.

The agents who can communicate both sides of this story clearly to their clients are the ones who will close more business this spring than everyone else. Are you having those conversations?

03/24/2026

The Fed kept rates unchanged again, and most people heard that and moved on. But if you are thinking about buying a home, the real story underneath that headline is actually worth paying attention to.

This is the second meeting in a row with no change, and the Fed is still projecting at least one rate cut later this year. But while everyone has been watching the Fed, affordability has been quietly improving in the background. A new Zillow analysis found that a median income household can now afford a home priced around $331,000, which is over $30,000 more in buying power compared to just a year ago. That is the strongest buying power we have seen since early 2022, driven by rates coming down from their peak, rising incomes, and flattening home price growth.

The market is not going to send you a notification when the timing is perfect. But the data is showing that conditions are getting better month by month, and the buyers who are pre-approved and ready are the ones who will be positioned to move when the right home comes up.

Follow along for regular updates on what the Fed and the housing market mean for your homebuying plans.

03/09/2026

Cosmetic updates do not always improve the math. I love a beautiful finish as much as anyone, but new surfaces don’t automatically change how a payment fits into your monthly life. Comfort usually comes from alignment between budget, goals, and flexibility. If you want help looking past the shine, DM me

03/05/2026