The Kim E. Minor Team - NMLS #2342815

09/08/2026

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 & 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒!

Maryland just launched a new $𝟓𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, and the numbers are worth looking at.

The 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 program through the Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) provides eligible first-time homebuyers with 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝟓% 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞.

The assistance is a 𝟎% 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, repayable when the first mortgage ends, such as through a sale or refinance.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 $𝟒𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞?

For a borrower who qualifies for 𝟑% 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧:

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
$450,000 × 3% = $𝟏𝟑,𝟓𝟎𝟎

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞:
$450,000 − $13,500 = $𝟒𝟑𝟔,𝟓𝟎𝟎

𝟓% 𝐌𝐌𝐏 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:
$436,500 × 5% = $𝟐𝟏,𝟖𝟐𝟓

Now let's apply the assistance:

$21,825 MMP second mortgage
− $13,500 down payment
= $𝟖,𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬

So, the assistance could potentially cover the borrower's 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝟑% 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒 $𝟖,𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬.

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞.

The First Homes program also provides an interest rate 𝟎.𝟓𝟎% 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐌𝐏'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟓% 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭.

Using recently published rates:

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: 𝟔.𝟕𝟏%¹
$436,500 loan
Approx. P&I = $𝟐,𝟖𝟐𝟎/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

𝐌𝐌𝐏 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: 𝟕.𝟎𝟎%²
$436,500 loan
Approx. P&I = $𝟐,𝟗𝟎𝟒/𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 $𝟖𝟓 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡.

So here's the question:

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 $𝟖𝟓 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 $𝟐𝟏,𝟖𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝟎% 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤?

For some buyers, it absolutely could.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬.

If you're a 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 considering buying your first home, 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
📞 𝟑𝟎𝟏-𝟓𝟑𝟕-𝟖𝟐𝟔𝟑 | 📧 𝐤𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫@𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦

¹ 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), September 3, 2026. National average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage: 𝟔.𝟕𝟏%.
² 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞: Maryland Mortgage Program published rate sheet, September 8, 2026. First Homes for First Responders and Teachers Conventional: 𝟕.𝟎𝟎%. See less

09/08/2026

📈 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟎-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭.

All eyes are on Friday's Consumer Price Index report, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET. It's the most important economic report of the week, and the inflation data could significantly influence expectations for the Fed's September 16 decision.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
🔹 Headline inflation up 0.4% in August, holding at 3.4% year over year
🔹 Core inflation up 0.2%, which would bring the annual figure down from 2.5% to 2.4%

Markets will be paying particularly close attention to core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices and can provide a clearer picture of underlying inflation trends.

And here's the part that connects directly to last week's post:

The Fed does not directly set your 30-year mortgage rate.

Mortgage rates are heavily influenced by the bond market, particularly mortgage-backed securities, with the 10-year Treasury serving as an important benchmark for longer-term interest rates.

That means mortgage rates can move before the Fed ever acts.

🔥 If CPI comes in hotter than expected, bond yields could move higher and put upward pressure on mortgage rates.
❄️ If CPI comes in cooler than expected, bonds could rally, and mortgage rates could benefit.

And if CPI comes in right around expectations? We may see a more muted reaction because much of that information may already be priced in.

That's why I don't just watch what the Fed does. I watch what the bond market is telling us before the Fed acts.

🏡 What does this mean if you're buying or refinancing?

The goal isn't to time the market perfectly. It's to understand what the market is telling us and build a financing strategy that gives you options.

𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐅𝐇𝐀, 𝐕𝐀, 𝐔𝐒𝐃𝐀, 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐐𝐌 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The rate matters. The strategy matters even more.

If you're considering buying or refinancing, let's talk strategy before Friday's data drops.

Helping Families Build Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

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09/04/2026

Rates moved higher during the week ending September 4, 2026, due to rising bond yields and expectations of a possible September Fed policy rate hike. Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc is an Equal Housing Lender.

Enjoy this quick update on what's going on in the housing and financial markets.

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞.

I’m grateful to be recognized as one of PRMI’s Mid-Atlantic Division Top Producers for August.

But behind every production number is a story.

One of my August closings was for a very close friend who trusted me to help him purchase his new home. And this closing date really mattered. He was scheduled to leave town the very next day, so we needed to make sure everything came together on time and as planned.

And it did.

After more than 25 years in mortgage lending, moments like this remind me that what we do is about much more than rates, loan amounts, and production.

It’s about trust, communication, preparation, and ex*****on.

When a friend trusts you personally and professionally with one of the largest financial decisions they’ll make, that means something.

So I’m grateful for the Top Producer recognition, but I’m even more grateful for the clients, friends, Realtors, and referral partners who continue to place their trust in me.

That’s what this recognition represents to me.

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

Kim E. Minor | Mortgage Advisor
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. | NMLS #977129
📞 301-537-8263 | [email protected]
Licensed in MD, DC, VA, NC, GA, DE, TX & NE

09/01/2026

📊 𝐃𝐌𝐕 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 & 𝐃𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

The July numbers are in, and across the region the story is stability with some real bright spots. Here is what buyers and sellers need to know. 👇

Values are holding. Maryland's statewide median hit $455,000, up 2.2% from last year. This market isn't in retreat. It is a market finding its footing.

📈 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠
Anne Arundel County is leading the region, up 9.6% to $553,500. Howard County ($674,900, up 6.3%) and Frederick County ($515,000, up 3.0%) are right behind with steady, healthy appreciation.

⚖️ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲
Montgomery County ($656,000) and Washington, DC ($672,500) are essentially flat year over year. Prices are stable, and stability is exactly what long-term buyers want.

🔑 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦
Several counties have softened this year, and that means more negotiating power. If affordability has kept you on the sidelines, those pockets are worth a serious look right now.

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: across the DMV, values are firm, and buyers finally have more options and leverage than they have had in years. That combination does not last forever. If you have been waiting for the right moment to build generational wealth through homeownership, this is a smart window to make your move. 🏡

𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧.
Kim E. Minor | NMLS #977129
📞 301-537-8263 | [email protected]

08/28/2026

Rates improved slightly during the week ending August 28, 2026, despite a report showing stubbornly high inflation. Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. is an Equal Housing Lender.

Enjoy this quick update on what's going on in the housing and financial markets.

08/25/2026

📈 Why I Track the 10-Year Treasury AND Mortgage Rates Every Day

When people ask me where mortgage rates are headed, one of the first places I look isn't the Federal Reserve.

It's the bond market, particularly the 10-year U.S. Treasury.

Why?

Because the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has historically moved closely with the 10-year Treasury yield. They aren't tied together perfectly, but when Treasury yields move significantly, mortgage rates generally move in the same direction.

The difference between the two is known as the mortgage spread:

📊 10-Year Treasury Yield + Mortgage Spread ≈ 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate

And that spread matters.

Looking at the historical data in the chart I created:

🔹 2016–2019: Average spread ≈ 1.7%

🔹 2020–2021: Average spread ≈ 1.9%

🔹 2022–2026: Average spread ≈ 2.4%

That widening spread helps explain something I hear all the time:

"If the 10-year Treasury has come down, why haven't mortgage rates fallen just as much?"

Because Treasury yields are only part of the equation. Mortgage-backed securities, inflation expectations, market volatility, prepayment risk, investor demand, and other factors can all influence the spread.

COVID provides a powerful example of how these markets interact.

When the economy shut down in 2020, Treasury yields plunged. The Federal Reserve provided extraordinary support to the Treasury and mortgage-backed securities markets, and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate eventually reached a historic low of 2.65% in January 2021.

Then inflation surged.

Monetary policy changed. Treasury yields climbed. Mortgage rates followed.

Today, we're watching another important chapter in the bond market unfold as the Treasury Department uses long-dated Treasury buybacks to support liquidity and market functioning.

This is why I track these markets every day.

And it's why the question:

"When is the Fed going to cut rates?"

doesn't tell the whole story.

The Federal Reserve does not directly set 30-year mortgage rates.

The bond market can move mortgage rates before the Fed acts, after the Fed acts, and sometimes in a direction people weren't expecting.

🏡 So what does this mean if you're buying a home?

I don't believe the goal should be trying to time the market perfectly.

The goal is to understand what the market is telling us and build a financing strategy that gives you options.

That could mean evaluating seller concessions, permanent or temporary rate buydowns, conventional or government financing, or even Non-QM solutions when traditional financing isn't the best fit.

The rate matters. The strategy matters even more.

If you're thinking about buying, refinancing, or investing in real estate, let's talk numbers and build a strategy for today's market.

Helping Families Build Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

08/21/2026

Rates moved higher during the week ending August 21, 2026, due to pressure from global bond concerns and rising oil prices. Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. is an Equal Housing Lender.

Enjoy this quick update on what's going on in the housing and financial markets.

08/07/2026

Rates remained stable but elevated during the week ending August 8, 2026, as jobs data pointed to a strong labor market. Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. is an Equal Housing Lender.

Enjoy this quick update on what's going on in the housing and financial markets.

07/31/2026

Rates were stable during the week ending July 31, 2026, despite rising oil prices and a resurgence of military strikes in the Middle East. Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. is an Equal Housing Lender.

Enjoy this quick update on what's going on in the housing and financial markets.