Shaun Meller - Mortgage Broker - Quintessential Mortgage Group

10/28/2026

If you're self-employed, with substantial write-offs and trying to qualify for a home mortgage, then a conventional bank will likely not work for you. There are products, however, that are custom-tailored to your situation. Watch this to understand how you would qualify...

10/26/2026

Treasury Yields Rest Above 5%: How Homeowners—and Buyers—Can Take Advantage of the Moment

A constant refrain from potential homebuyers in recent years has been a desire to wait to buy until rates come down. It’s going to be difficult for homebuyers to understand that this might be the new normal in this economy.

“But that same environment makes cash more productive. Those looking to buy houses who have built up a down payment no longer have to look at the stock market for a return. They can hold that down payment in cash, in a money market, or in a high-yield savings account, and keep looking around at houses without worrying about their purchasing power decreasing.”

“…if you have a down payment for a house, you’re actively looking, and you don’t know exactly when you’ll need the money, a high-yield savings account could be a fantastic place to park it for the time being.”

Treasury yields are staying above 5%, but that means homebuyers can grow their savings right now while they wait for mortgage rates to fall.

10/21/2026

Do you know the difference between a prequalification and a preapproval? If you're competing against an all-cash offer, you'll need to know which one puts you in a better position to win that offer! Not all lenders offer them, but many lenders will have you think they're equivalent...but they are not!

10/20/2026

Do you know the difference between a preapproval and a prequalification? Stay tuned to find out!

10/15/2026

If you're in the real estate industry, every member of your team is a reflection on everyone else. Can you rely on your partners to treat your clients the way you would want to be treated? Can you be sure they're being given the full range of options that are available? Are you familiar with the advantages your referral partners bring to the table?

10/13/2026

I'm posting this brief explainer for the current drivers behind the spike in mortgage rates. Understanding the way markets and rates interact can help real estate consumers to calmly navigate the environment and set proper expectations, even if the news may not always be favorable.

Some of the below is taken from a recent article in Realtor.com: For the past month, global bond markets have been in the grips of a historic sell-off triggered by a tangle of complex economic issues ranging from the ongoing war in Iran to rising deficits to the race to build out data centers to pow

10/12/2026

Mortgage Rates Hitting 8% This Year Is Not Impossible—and Yet, That Shouldn’t Be Buyers’ Biggest Concern

The attached article mentions low savings rates for down payments as the bigger concern for buyers. However, Fannie/Freddie allow for down payments as low as 5%, and FHA allows for down payments as low as 3.5%. Further, there is typically a lag of several months before sellers understand the need to adjust their price points, in addition to buyers resetting their budgets to move lower down on the price spectrum accordingly.

Rates got close to 8% in late 2023, reaching as high as 7.79% on Oct. 26, 2023, but they have not been above 8% since 2000.

HOWEVER, those who watch the rates closest and know the history of our markets best agree that while rates have been on an upswing, the likelihood of an 8% rate this year is slim, even though the major drivers of the rate hikes also don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

As mortgage rates continue to climb, buyers are concerned when they'll hit their peak. Is 8% bound to be that number?

10/07/2026

Mortgage rates continue to trend higher today with conventional rates now well into the 7% range. If you need cash to pay for renovations, college tuition, debt consolidation or anything else, there's a way to do that WITHOUT losing your low mortgage rate...

10/06/2026

What Could Homeownership Mean for Your Long-Term Future?

For those who are ready for the responsibility, homeownership can be more than simply buying a house. It can be a way to put down roots, build equity, create stability, and establish an asset that can remain valuable for years—and potentially generations—to come.

Deciding whether to buy a home or continue renting is one of the biggest financial decisions many people make. There is no universal answer, and renting can make a lot of sense depending on your lifestyle, finances, career plans, and how long you expect to stay in one place.

10/05/2026

Mortgage Rates Soar to 3-Year High as Global Bond Market Selloff Deepens

In a volatile rate environment, the best thing buyers can do is rate-proof their budget. Historically, rates have typically stayed within a 75 basis-point range over a six-month window. “Testing both the high and low ends of that range against your budget can help buyers plan for the market and approach homebuying with confidence.”

Mortgage rates jumped to their highest level in nearly three years last week, driven by a massive global bond market selloff stemming from rising energy costs and lingering inflation fears.

This comes as the 10-year Treasury yield, which mortgage rates closely follow, on Thursday touched 5.34%, a level not seen since April 2002, fueled by rising oil prices from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, expectations of growing inflation, and concerns about rising federal deficits.

The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages hit 7.28% for the week ending Oct. 1, up 25 basis points from last week.