Mortgage Brokers of the South NMLS 2565664

10/29/2026

Getting your offer accepted is a big milestone, but there are still important steps to take before closing. Changes to your credit, debt, employment, or finances could affect your mortgage approval, even late in the process. Before making major financial moves, check with me to understand how they could affect your loan. A little caution now can help keep your homebuying journey on track!

10/23/2026

Hi, this is Crystal Nay with your weekly market update.

🏡Housing activity weakened in September. Pending home sales fell 7.3% from August and 11.3% year over year, with all four U.S. regions seeing declines.

New home construction also slowed. Housing starts dropped 5.2% to an annual pace of 1.22 million homes, while completions fell 14% year over year. Building permits, a gauge of future construction, edged down as well.

Builder confidence hit a 14-year low in October, as high mortgage rates, labor shortages, and rising building costs continue to pressure the industry. Limited new supply could help support home prices in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, investors have been moving toward the safety of US Treasuries amid unrest in France and concerns about AI-related debt. More than 500,000 people have protested in France, while worries are growing that AI infrastructure companies could struggle to repay debt if major customers like Tesla and Meta rein in spending. These concerns have weighed on related stocks and supported demand for bonds.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or have questions about today’s market, I’m happy to help.

Mixed-Use: if you will occupy the property, will you set aside space within the property to operate your own business? (e.g., daycare facility, medical office, beauty/barber shop)

10/22/2026

Saving for a down payment is important, but it shouldn't be the only savings goal when you're preparing to buy. Moving and closing expenses can add up, and homeownership inevitably comes with the occasional unexpected repair. Building some savings beyond the money needed to close can help you start homeownership on a stronger financial footing. Having a financial cushion can also give you more flexibility to handle the unexpected without putting your long-term goals on hold.

10/03/2026

Hi, this is Crystal Nay with your weekly market update.

It was a busy week for economic reports, with new data on inflation, jobs, home prices and economic growth.

On inflation, headline PCE rose 0.3% in August, while annual inflation held at 3.4%, below the 3.7% estimate. Core PCE, which excludes food and energy, also rose 0.2%, with annual core inflation at 3%, below the 3.3% forecast. The Dallas Fed’s Trimmed Mean measure showed underlying inflation at 2.2% over the past year, much closer to the Fed’s 2% target.

On the labor front, Friday’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, well below expectations, while the unemployment rate rose from 4.1% to 4.2%. ADP estimated that private employers added 90,000 jobs, a rebound after a three-month slowdown. Job openings totaled 7.08 million, also below expectations, while new unemployment claims remain relatively low by historical standards.

The Fed has two meetings remaining this year, and upcoming inflation and labor reports will be important as policymakers consider their next move.

Case-Shiller data showed home prices rose 0.1% from June to July, bringing the gain from March through July to nearly 3%. That’s a resilient pace of growth, especially as mortgage rates began rising during the period. Even modest appreciation can build meaningful wealth over time. For example, a $500,000 home appreciating at 3% per year would gain roughly $15,000 in value in the first year alone.🏠

Finally, second quarter GDP grew at an annualized 2.2% pace, above the previous 1.5% estimate.

If you're thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or simply have questions about today's market, I'm happy to help.

Mixed-Use: if you will occupy the property, will you set aside space within the property to operate your own business? (e.g., daycare facility, medical office, beauty/barber shop)

09/26/2026

Happy Saturday, this is Crystal Nay with your weekly market update.

Markets were volatile this week, with comments from Federal Reserve officials and geopolitical developments both playing a role.

Several Fed members, including Governor Michael Barr, New York President John Williams, and Philadelphia President Anna Paulson made new comments suggesting another rate hike may be needed to bring inflation back toward the Fed’s 2% target. The Fed has two meetings remaining this year, in October and December, and markets increased the odds of a rate hike at the October meeting.

Keep in mind, the Fed Funds Rate is the overnight borrowing rate for banks – it’s not the same as mortgage rates.

Geopolitical headlines also added to market volatility. Comments from President Trump and Iran’s president at the U.N. General Assembly added uncertainty around the conflict and negotiations, while markets also watched for potential impacts on oil prices.

🏘️Turning to housing, new home sales rose 6.4% in August to an annualized pace of 684,000 – the highest pace of the year and above expectations. July sales were also revised higher. While the median new home price fell 5.8% from a year ago, that doesn’t necessarily mean home values are falling. The median can be influenced by the mix of homes being sold, and sales of homes under $500,000 increased notably this August compared to last year.

If you’re thinking about buying a home or have questions about today’s market, I’m happy to help.

Mixed-Use: if you will occupy the property, will you set aside space within the property to operate your own business? (e.g., daycare facility, medical office, beauty/barber shop)

09/21/2026

A home may look perfect during a showing, but there's a lot you can't see just by walking through it. A professional home inspection can provide valuable insight into the property's condition and help you understand what you're buying. It can also help you better anticipate future maintenance and repair costs. Taking the time to understand a home's condition before you buy can help you feel more confident in your decision.

09/19/2026

Housing starts fell 2.6% from July to August, coming in below expectations. Building permits, a key indicator of future homebuilding, also declined by a similar 2.7%.

09/19/2026

Hi, this is Crystal Nay with your weekly market update.

As widely expected, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark Federal Funds Rate by 25 basis points. This was the Fed’s first rate hike in three years and its first rate change this year, following five consecutive meetings with no change.

Keep in mind, the Fed Funds Rate is the overnight rate banks charge each other and is not the same as mortgage rates.

The decision was unanimous, with the Fed pointing to elevated inflation as a key reason for the move. The latest projections also suggest another rate hike could come this year, with 16 of 18 officials projecting a higher Fed Funds Rate by year-end.

In housing news, new construction cooled in August, while builder confidence remained subdued. Higher mortgage rates, labor shortages, and elevated construction costs continue to weigh on builders.

The resale market showed a modest improvement. Pending home sales rose 0.3% from July to August, but remained 4.7% below a year ago. Even with higher mortgage rates, buyers are still moving forward. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said buyers were “steadily entering into contracts” last month.

Looking at the broader economy, retail sales jumped 1.2% in August, with 12 of 13 retail categories reporting gains. Initial unemployment claims remained relatively low at 196,000, while continuing claims stayed elevated at 1.73 million.

If you're thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or simply have questions about today's market, I'm happy to help.

Mixed-Use: if you will occupy the property, will you set aside space within the property to operate your own business? (e.g., daycare facility, medical office, beauty/barber shop)

09/14/2026

When you’re buying a home, the appraisal is an important part of the process, providing an independent opinion of the property’s value. Appraisers consider factors such as recent sales of comparable homes, location, size and features, overall condition, and improvements. These details help determine how the home compares with similar properties in the local market. Understanding what goes into an appraisal can help you set realistic expectations, make informed decisions, and feel better prepared for closing.

09/14/2026

September MBS Highway survey: buyer activity and price trends cool

Crystal here with a quick update from the latest MBS Highway National Housing Index.

Housing market activity continued to cool in September. The national index fell from 27 in August to 22 in September, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline. For perspective, the index reached a seasonal high of 47 back in May.

Both buyer activity and home price direction weakened, falling below August levels and where they were a year ago.

Regionally, the slowdown was widespread. Buyer activity declined in all seven regions, with the largest drops in the Northeast and Southeast. Price direction also weakened in six of the seven regions.

This month’s survey also looked at seller concessions. Nearly half of respondents – 46% – said seller concessions were very common in their markets. Another 42% said they were somewhat common, while just 12% said concessions were rare.

There were some interesting regional differences, though. The Midwest, West, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest were broadly in line with the national trend, while the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast stood out. In the Mid-Atlantic, 36% said concessions were rare, while that number jumped to 71% in the Northeast.

Of course, every market is different. So, if you’re wondering what these trends mean for our local market, or what they could mean for your buying or financing options, reach out. I’m happy to help you build a plan that’s right for you.

Call now to connect with business.