Jeremy Mitchell Mortgage Loan Officer

10/19/2026

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗛ave Been Here Before.
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𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲⁣
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𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙪𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨⁣
The best description for the housing market vibe this month is disappointment. Average mortgage rates are front and center again, and not in a good way. After hovering around 6.75% for most of August, conventional rates shot up to 𝟳.𝟮𝟰% 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 in anticipation of the Federal Reserve raising the Fed Funds Rate. ⁣
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That is nearly a half percent increase, equating to roughly a 5% increase in a principal and interest payment. On a $3,000 monthly payment, it’s an extra $150, which isn’t enough to disqualify most active buyers but the “shock and awe” has stalled demand back to 2023 and 2024 levels.⁣
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𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 when rates were routinely over 7.25%, and market indicators do not support a crash in 2026. However, they may glide with less demand. Ironically, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 that has caused such a sharp pause in buyer activity, because more homes sold in previous years with the same or higher rates. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲. ⁣
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Buyers typically pause when the rate is actively rising or actively falling, waiting for it to find stability. This pause provides a window of opportunity for those buyers who can shoulder a higher payment temporarily and negotiate a better deal on the price or terms of their purchase. When rates decline again, they may refinance their home and enjoy a lower payment.⁣
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Those who purchased in 2023 at 8% in October were able to refinance at 6.6% by December, or 6.1% by September 2024. Rates increased to 7.25% by January 2025, and those buyers were able to refinance to 6.1% by September. As a rule of thumb, every 1% change in mortgage rate equates to roughly a 10% difference on the principal and interest payment.⁣
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Meanwhile, incentives remain primarily focused on seller-paid closing costs and rate buydowns that effectively drop a buyer’s principal and interest payment temporarily by 10-20% for a year or two. In August, 59% of all MLS sales involved some form of seller-paid incentive of this nature, with a median cost to the seller at just over $10,000. The top price range for incentives is $350,000-$400,000 at 71% of sales.⁣
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The 4th quarter is seasonally the best time to be a home buyer in Greater Phoenix anyway, so expect new construction incentives to ramp up as well. Buyers who can shoulder the higher rate can negotiate better terms on the home they want today, and get the payment they want when rates decline in the future.⁣

🚨Contact me to get pre-approved and if you need a realtor I can put you in touch with several realtor partners I work with.
📱480-480-5626
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*𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘦𝘳, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵

09/06/2026

🚨Attention🚨

Big guideline change, this one from Fannie and it's all about rental income.

Departing residences - leases no longer required, you can use market-supported rent comps, BUT reserves are now required.

Using leases for other qualifying scenarios (not departing residences) got a little tighter with some specific requirements.

Short-term rentals finally have actual written requirements for using STR income. This is probably the hardest one to try to explain in a short social media post, so let's chat offline if you want to know what changed on that.

Guideline changes are flying in from every direction right now. Make sure you're getting them from a source you trust.

📱480-480-5626

04/29/2026

🇺🇸 Helping a Veteran Come Home — And a Realtor Close Their First Deal 🏡

This one meant a little more than most.

I recently had the opportunity to help a first-time homebuyer, also a veteran relocating back from overseas to secure their forever home using the VA loan benefit—and it couldn’t have come together any better.

After living abroad, this veteran and their family were ready to plant roots here at home. Like many military families, the transition can come with a lot of moving pieces… timelines, logistics, and making the right financial decisions from a distance.

That’s where the VA loan program truly shines:
✅ No down payment
✅ No monthly mortgage insurance
✅ Competitive interest rates
✅ Flexible qualification guidelines

Also…
👉🏻helped them save $3500 in origination fees compared to the call center LO
👉🏻locked in a lower rate and temporary buy down to help with payment savings not available to them with the call center LO

But what made this deal even more special?

This transaction also marked the very first closing for a new real estate agent.

There’s something powerful about being part of a “first” — and I genuinely enjoyed helping guide both the client and the agent through the process. From structuring the loan correctly to navigating VA guidelines, it was a true team effort to get this across the finish line.

Buying a home—especially your first one—is a huge milestone. Doing it after returning from overseas? Even bigger.

And helping a new agent experience that first successful closing? That’s something they’ll never forget.

Moments like this are exactly why I love what I do, period.

If you’re a veteran, active-duty service member, or first-time homebuyer thinking about using your VA loan benefit—or if you’re a realtor looking for a lender who understands VA loans inside and out—I’m always here to help.

📩 Let’s connect and build our next success story.

04/17/2026

Mortgage rates had their best day of the month so far with the top tier 30yr fixed rate falling 0.08% for the average lender to the lowest levels in exactly 4 weeks. Today's improvement is a bit bi...

04/17/2026

People ask me, "What are the rates?" I say, well. The bond market is manic depressive & reacts to the Bi-polar stock market which reacts to the Boarder Line Personality Media. Short answer, in the low 6's and high 5’s for VA/FHA

04/16/2026

Every loan officer hears this question:

“Should I wait until rates come down to buy a home?”
or
“When do you think rates will drop?”

I saw a graphic yesterday that really puts things into perspective—and it shows the real cost of waiting.

During that wait:
💹 Home prices increased by $95,000
💹 Rent was paid for 6 years
💹 $95,000 in home equity was missed

Waiting can feel like the safe move, but it’s often one of the most expensive decisions homebuyers make. The housing market rarely rewards perfect timing.

Here’s the good news:
You don’t need perfect timing—you need a smart home buying strategy.

With the right plan, you can buy now, start building equity, and refinance later if interest rates improve. It’s not about predicting the market—it’s about being prepared for it.

If you—or someone you know—is waiting on interest rates, let’s put together a plan so you don’t miss out on opportunities in today’s market.

Jeremy Mitchell | Loan Officer
📱480-480-5626
💻 JeremyVAloans.com

04/14/2026

Good info from Dawne.

But FYI.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs just rolled out major updates to VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)—and this is a game changer for getting deals done in today’s market.

If you’ve ever been hesitant about accepting a VA loan offer, pay attention 👇

🔥 Two of the biggest VA deal killers are officially gone:

✅ Peeling paint (post-1978 homes)
No longer considered an MPR issue.
👉 Now treated as cosmetic
👉 No required repairs
👉 No appraisal delays

✅ Outbuildings no longer subject to MPRs
(Sheds, barns, detached structures, fencing)
👉 Removed from appraiser scrutiny
👉 Huge win for rural, custom, and acreage properties. (I have had this personally come up in past where gutters were required as a repair, ridiculous).

👇🏻

💡 Why this matters for YOU as a listing agent:

✔ Fewer repair negotiations
✔ Faster closings
✔ Stronger, more competitive VA offers
✔ Less appraisal uncertainty
✔ More buyers qualify for your listings

In short: VA loans just got easier to work with—and harder to ignore.

04/14/2026

Go check out this open house.

✨TOMORROW✨

Renee will be waiting for you at 546 Aloha Dr!🏝️

Come check out this completely remodeled pool home between 11 and 2🕑

You have to see all it has to offer🤩

💰Listed at $890,000

04/10/2026

Most veterans don’t fully understand what their VA loan benefit actually gives them.

And it’s not their fault.

The reality is… many people in the mortgage industry don’t fully understand it either.

So let me break it down simply 👇

If you’re a veteran, this benefit is one of the most powerful financial tools you have access to:

✅ VA Funding Fee Waived (for disabled veterans)
If you have a VA disability rating, the funding fee is completely eliminated.
That’s typically 2.15%–3.3% of your loan amount.

➡️ On a $500,000 home, that’s $10,750–$16,500 saved instantly.

✅ Lower Interest Rates vs. Conventional Loans
VA loans consistently run about 0.50%–1.50% lower than conventional rates.

➡️ That’s roughly $139–$417 less per month on a $500K loan
➡️ Over 30 years… that’s tens of thousands saved

✅ No Down Payment. No PMI. No Loan Limits (with full entitlement)
Thanks to changes under the Blue Water Navy Act:

✔️ $0 down payment
✔️ No private mortgage insurance (PMI)
✔️ No loan limits for eligible veterans with full entitlement

✅ Flexible Qualification Guidelines
VA loans are designed to say “yes” more often:

✔️ Lower credit scores (even below 620 in many cases)
✔️ Higher debt-to-income ratios
✔️ Past credit events like bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale

✅ Built-In Future Refinance Advantage (IRRRL)
When rates drop, VA borrowers have access to the IRRRL (Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan):

➡️ Typically no appraisal required
➡️ Minimal documentation
➡️ One of the fastest, simplest refinance options available

Here’s the truth:
Most veterans use this benefit once… and never fully realize how much it actually gave them.

This isn’t just a loan program.
It’s a long-term wealth-building tool.

And you earned it.

If you’re a veteran and have questions about your VA loan eligibility, benefits, or buying strategy…

💬 Drop a comment
📩 Or send me a direct message
📱480-480-5626
💻JeremyVAloans.com

I’m always happy to help you make the most of what you’ve earned.

04/08/2026

🚨 BIG VA LOAN UPDATE (Effective May 2026) — REALTORS, THIS WILL CHANGE HOW YOU VIEW VA OFFERS

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs just rolled out major updates to VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)—and this is a game changer for getting deals done in today’s market.

If you’ve ever been hesitant about accepting a VA loan offer, pay attention 👇

🔥 Two of the biggest VA deal killers are officially gone:

✅ Peeling paint (post-1978 homes)
No longer considered an MPR issue.
👉 Now treated as cosmetic
👉 No required repairs
👉 No appraisal delays

✅ Outbuildings no longer subject to MPRs
(Sheds, barns, detached structures, fencing)
👉 Removed from appraiser scrutiny
👉 Huge win for rural, custom, and acreage properties. (I have had this personally come up in past where gutters were required as a repair, ridiculous).

👇🏻

💡 Why this matters for YOU as a listing agent:

✔ Fewer repair negotiations
✔ Faster closings
✔ Stronger, more competitive VA offers
✔ Less appraisal uncertainty
✔ More buyers qualify for your listings

In short: VA loans just got easier to work with—and harder to ignore.

👇🏻

📈 What this means for your business:

Inventory is tight. Buyers are competing.
And VA buyers are now positioned to compete more aggressively—without the red tape that used to hold them back.

If you’ve ever:
• Turned down a VA offer
• Advised a seller to avoid VA financing
• Lost a deal due to appraisal repairs

➡️ These updates directly solve those problems.

👇🏻

🇺🇸 My commitment (and how I help you win more deals):

I’ve specialized in VA loans since 2007, and my focus is simple:
Make VA offers clean, competitive, and easy for agents to say YES to.

If you want:
• A quick breakdown of how this impacts your current listings
• A VA strategy to win in multiple-offer situations
• Or help structuring a deal to avoid appraisal issues

📩 Let’s connect—I’ll help you turn more VA buyers into closed transactions.

📱480-480-5626
💻Jeremyvaloans.com




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