Melanie Camargo - Mortgage Broker NMLS 1828793

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Melanie Camargo - Mortgage Broker NMLS 1828793

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Alaska-based mortgage broker and VA loan specialist focused on VA home loans in Alaska. NMLS 1828793 Amped Mortgage, Inc.

Helping veterans, active-duty, PCS, non-military, first-time, and move-up buyers with VA loans, FHA, USDA, and conventional home loans across Alaska. NMLS 2160725
1051 E Hovarth Dr, STE 102 Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 519-7000 •
For licensing information, go to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Your hometown mortgage experts! Most people find that mortgage financing is complicated and confusing. We help you buy your dream home by simplifying the mortgage financing process with personalized loan options that save you time and money.

10/28/2026

HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) and cash-out refi get mixed up all the time, and it's easy to see why.

Both are ways to make use of the equity you've built, they just work very differently. Knowing how they compare puts you in a better spot to decide what fits when your goals shift. No need to have it all figured out today.

Save this for when the time feels right, and reach out whenever you'd like to talk it through.

09/17/2026

From the emails today…

We had a lot of movement in the markets yesterday following the Federal Reserve meeting, but Mortgage Bonds and stocks are rebounding this morning.

So, what happened?

The Federal Reserve unanimously raised its benchmark rate by 0.25%, bringing the Fed Funds target range to 3.75%–4.00%.

Initially, the bond market responded positively. Later, comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh about inflation and monetary policy caused the market to reverse course.

The Fed’s updated projections also showed a higher expected path for interest rates than in June. The median projection now puts the Fed Funds Rate at 4.1% at year-end, and the unemployment rate projection was lowered from 4.3% to 4.1%.

The encouraging news this morning

Bonds are recovering, and Treasury yields have improved from yesterday’s highs.

That can translate into better mortgage pricing today, but here’s something consumers don’t always see: lenders don’t necessarily update their rate sheets at the same time or by the same amount.

Some lenders pass market improvements through quickly. Others take a more conservative approach, especially when markets are moving this much.

That’s one of the advantages of working with a mortgage broker. I’m not watching just one lender’s rate sheet. I can compare pricing across multiple lenders as the market changes.

🏡 What about housing?

Housing continues to be a mixed picture. Overall housing starts declined 2.6% in August, while single-family construction actually increased 7.6%. Building permits declined, and builder confidence fell to 32 in September, reflecting the pressure of higher borrowing and construction costs.

The labor market also remains relatively strong. Initial unemployment claims fell to 196,000, while continuing claims declined to 1.73 million.

What does this mean if you’re buying a home?

Today’s improvement is welcome, but one good morning doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve started a longer-term trend toward lower mortgage rates.

Mortgage rates can change quickly as the market reacts to inflation, economic data, energy prices and global events.

That doesn’t mean you need to panic or try to perfectly time the market.

It means strategy matters.

For my clients, I’m watching the bond market, comparing multiple lenders and looking for opportunities as pricing changes. Sometimes the opportunity isn’t just finding a good rate—it’s recognizing when better pricing becomes available and whether it makes sense for your specific loan and timeline.

For now, I’m watching rather than rushing to lock. Every loan and closing timeline is different, so lock decisions should be made individually.

For informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend or a guarantee of any interest rate. Rates and terms are subject to change based on market conditions and borrower/property qualifications. Equal Housing Lender. Melanie Camargo NMLS #1828793 | Amped Mortgage, Inc. NMLS #2160725.

09/15/2026

From the emails today …

We’re seeing some upward pressure on mortgage rates as the bond market reacts to inflation, energy prices, and uncertainty ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.

The 10-year Treasury briefly moved above 5% this morning. While mortgage rates don’t directly follow the Fed Funds Rate, they are heavily influenced by the bond market and expectations for inflation and the economy.

Mortgage News Daily’s national average for a top-tier 30-year fixed mortgage was 7.17% yesterday. That’s a national benchmark—not necessarily the rate an individual borrower will receive. Your actual rate depends on your loan program, credit profile, property, down payment and other factors.

The Federal Reserve begins its two-day meeting today, with its decision coming tomorrow. The headline decision matters, but what the Fed says about inflation and its outlook for future policy can be just as important to mortgage rates.

What does this mean if you’re buying a home?

There’s no reason to panic or try to perfectly time the market. Rates can move quickly in either direction, and different lenders and loan programs can price very differently.

If you’re already under contract, this is a good time to stay in close communication with your lender about your lock strategy. If you’re still shopping, focus on a payment and purchase price that work for your budget today rather than making a decision based on where someone predicts rates will be tomorrow.

As a mortgage broker, I monitor the bond market and multiple lending sources so we can compare options and make decisions based on your specific situation—not just the headlines.

09/11/2026

From the emails today…

If you’ve been watching mortgage rates lately, you may be wondering: Should I lock? Should I wait? Are rates about to come down?

Those are fair questions — especially after a week like this.

Friday’s inflation report came in a little hotter than the market wanted, and Mortgage Bonds had a rough day. Rates have moved higher, and the short-term outlook suggests we could continue to see some volatility.

But there were also some encouraging details beneath the headline.

Core inflation eased to 2.4% year over year, its lowest reading of the year. While the monthly inflation numbers were hotter than expected, some of the pressure came from specific areas, including higher energy costs.

So instead of reading one headline and thinking, “Rates are going up — I should just wait,” I like to look at the bigger picture.
I don’t rely on one economist, one headline, or one market update to tell me what rates are going to do.

I follow multiple market sources and economists, along with Mortgage Bonds, Treasury yields, inflation reports, economic data, oil prices and Fed expectations. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they absolutely do not.

And that’s exactly why paying attention matters.

No economist — and no lender — can perfectly predict where mortgage rates are going next. What I CAN do is watch the market, compare the information coming from multiple sources, and help my clients make an informed decision based on their timeline, their numbers and their goals.

Because instead of only asking:
“What are rates going to do?”
I think a better question is:
“What makes sense for ME if rates go up, stay where they are, or improve?”

That’s where having a strategy matters.
Next week’s Fed meeting could bring another round of market movement, and I’ll be paying close attention.

There are still opportunities in this market. You just want someone in your corner who is watching more than one headline and helping you understand the bigger picture.

Current as of 9/11/2026. For informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend or a guarantee of any interest rate. Rates and terms are subject to change based on market conditions and borrower/property qualifications. Equal Housing Lender. Melanie Camargo NMLS #1828793 | Amped Mortgage, Inc. NMLS #2160725.

09/04/2026

From the emails today…

Well, the jobs report came in and said, “Surprise!”

The August Jobs Report showed 162,000 jobs added, way above the 58,000 expected. Previous months were also revised higher, and unemployment held steady at 4.1%.

So what does that mean for mortgage rates?

Stocks and Mortgage Bonds moved lower after the report, which isn’t exactly what we want to see for rates.

But there’s a little more to the story…

Other employment reports this week showed MUCH weaker job growth, so the data isn’t exactly agreeing with itself. And today’s BLS report has a history of getting some pretty significant revisions.

The Fed is also much more focused on inflation right now.

👉 That makes next Friday’s CPI inflation report the one I’m really watching.

A hotter inflation number could increase pressure for the Fed to hike rates at its September meeting. A cooler number could give the mortgage market some breathing room.

For now: We start the day floating.

As always, remember: the Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates. Mortgage rates react to the bigger picture—jobs, inflation, the bond market, and expectations about what the Fed will do next.

If you’re buying a home, don’t try to time all of this yourself. That’s my job. 😊

09/04/2026

Fannie Mae just made a BIG change for homeowners who want to keep their current home, turn it into a rental, and buy their next primary residence.

And this could make qualifying a whole lot easier.

Under the new Fannie Mae guidelines, a lease agreement will no longer be used to document rental income on an eligible departing residence.

That means you may no longer need to:
→ Find a tenant before closing
→ Sign a lease while you’re still living in the home
→ Collect first month’s rent
→ Collect a security deposit

Instead, we can document the home’s market rent using:

→ An appraisal that includes market rents
→ A Form 1007 Comparable Rent Schedule
→ A market analysis using sources such as Zillow, Redfin, or MLS, supported by at least 3 comparable rental properties

Here’s how the qualifying calculation works:

We take 75% of the documented market rent and compare it to the PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance and applicable association dues) on the home you’re leaving.

For example:

Market rent: $3,000
75% of rent: $2,250
Current PITIA: $2,500

Qualifying difference: -$250/month

Instead of the entire $2,500 housing payment impacting your DTI, the net impact from the departing residence would be $250 per month.

If 75% of the rent is more than the PITIA, the excess does not become additional qualifying income. It can only offset the departing residence payment.

One more important piece: If you have less than 12 months of property-management experience, Fannie Mae requires 6 months of reserves for the PITIA on the departing residence, in addition to any other applicable reserve requirements.

Why is this such a big deal?

There are a lot of homeowners sitting on 3% and 4% mortgage rates who would love to move but don’t necessarily want to give up their current home—or that interest rate.

This change could make the conversation look very different:

Keep your current home → Convert it to a rental → Buy your next primary residence.

Fannie Mae’s change takes effect November 1, however, some lenders are expected to implement it in mid-October.

As always, guidelines and individual circumstances matter. If you’ve been thinking about moving but keeping your current home, this is definitely worth a planning conversation.

09/03/2026

From the emails today -

🏡 Mortgage Market Update | September 3

Some encouraging movement in the mortgage market this morning! 📉

Stocks and Mortgage Bonds are both higher following comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller that the markets viewed as more favorable for interest rates.

Here’s what matters for homebuyers:

• Inflation is showing some signs of cooling.
• The Fed may keep rates unchanged at its September 16 meeting if inflation continues moving in the right direction.
• Recent employment reports are showing slower job growth, with ADP reporting just 38,000 new jobs in August and another private report showing 37,000.
• Tomorrow’s official Jobs Report will be an important one to watch. A weaker-than-expected report could be favorable for Mortgage Bonds and mortgage rates.
• One thing working in the opposite direction: oil prices continue to climb, with WTI around $92/barrel. Higher energy costs can contribute to inflation concerns.

What does this mean for mortgage rates?

Mortgage Bonds are rallying this morning, which is generally positive for mortgage rates. We still have some important economic reports ahead, so things can change quickly.

For now, the recommendation from MBS Highway is to continue floating rates rather than locking.

If you’re buying a home or considering a refinance, this is a great reminder that you don’t have to try to time the market on your own. I’m happy to look at your specific situation and help you understand your options. 🏡

Source: MBS Highway | September 3, 2026

Melanie Camargo
Senior Mortgage Loan Originator | Amped Mortgage

09/01/2026

School's in session! Rate is here to help you check off your essentials before house hunting. 🏡✏️

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Restrictions apply.
Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

08/13/2026

Pattern recognition is the first step. Now it's time to break it.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6182a1zqj. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

08/06/2026

The best way to stop paying rent? Owning a home. We can help with that.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6183aEcoZ. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Restrictions apply.

08/03/2026

Our choices shape our days, and our days shape our lives. Start living yours in the Rate App.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6188a8x04. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

07/25/2026

Car guy? No. House guy.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Restrictions apply.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6181v7DIb. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

07/22/2026

All the tools to live a longer, happier life - all in one place

07/21/2026

Closing day: 🥳🔑🏡 Moving day: 📦😵‍💫🍕🛏️

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6180vfO4Y. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Restrictions apply.

07/20/2026

Consider this a stress-free sample of all the Rate App app has to offer.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6187v2bBc. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

07/14/2026

The couch situation is between you and the doorway. The utilities do not have to be.

Rate Concierge gives you one point of contact to transfer and set up your utilities and internet at your new home, at no additional cost. Less time calling providers. Fewer moving-day surprises. One less horror story. Rate Concierge, powered by OneSource.

Guaranteed Rate Inc. D/B/A Rate; NMLS #2611. For licensing information visit http://ms.spr.ly/6189vFO99. Operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York. Equal Housing Lender.

07/08/2026

Interest rate news from my inbox…

Rate outlook for today...
With oil prices back to being a factor, rate sheets this morning are quite a bit worse than yesterday, yet still not as bad as some might expect based on the escalation in the Middle East. The U.S. resumed military attacks last night, and President Trump has said the ceasefire is over and has said there will be more attacks tonight. Bonds seem to be taking this in stride though, only down a bit this morning. Still, this bears watching, and reprice risk on the day is moderate.

Rate outlook for the next 15 days...
Cautiously float, but be ready to lock if bonds start selling
The thing that is concerning here is that mortgage rates are already elevated, being quite a bit higher than they were in February when oil prices were lower like we saw earlier this week. If we see oil push back higher and rates react, there is a higher ceiling to how high we could see rates go. For now though, we want to give it a bit of time for things to play out, maybe we see some easing of tensions (but at the moment that doesn't seem likely).

Be clear, we are cautiously floating for the moment, but we need to be ready to lock if things continue to get worse.

15-to-30 Day Rate Outlook...
Cautiously float for now
Forecasting where rates will be in three to four weeks depends solely on how quickly and how violently things escalate in the Middle East and what happens with the Strait of Hormuz. Make no mistake, markets don't really care about the military actions anymore, there is no flight to safety. Markets will react to ship traffic through the strait, and if traffic comes to a halt again, expect oil prices to surge and rates to move higher with them. However, if oil prices stay stable and move lower again if ship traffic resumes, mortgage rates will also ease back a bit.

Longer Term Rate Outlook (30+ days out)...
Cautiously Float
For the first time since ships started moving through the Persian Gulf, the outlook for rates 30+ days out has grown more concerning. If we see escalation, we could see even higher rates in August than we saw in May. It's too early to panic, but it isn't too early to pay attention. It will depend on how things play out over the next few days.

MARKET SNAPSHOT:
The UMBS 5.5 coupon is at 99.91, down -12bps on the day but down about -35bps from when pricing came out yesterday. Watch to see if mortgage bonds break 99.79, opening the door to fall all the way down to 99.21.

HJH

06/23/2026

We were so AMPED to celebrate with all of you at our Summer Customer & Referral Partner Appreciation Barbecue! ☀️🍔🎉

Just before the Summer Solstice, we kicked summer off right with 75° weather, great food, lots of laughs, and so many happy faces. Seeing our clients, referral partners, friends, and families all together reminded us how grateful we are for this amazing community.

And for those who couldn’t make it, we completely understand! Thank you for all the messages. We know that when Alaska gives us sunshine and a three-day weekend is around the corner, the urge to get out of town is almost as important as buying a home. 😆🏕️🚤

Thank you for being part of the Amped Mortgage family. We had an absolute blast celebrating with you!

06/05/2026

🏡✨ CLOSED & FUNDED! ✨

Welcome to Alaska! Our buyers are officially homeowners in this beautiful new construction home. 🎉

Our clients signed their closing documents while driving across the country, just before crossing into Canada on their way to their new Alaska home!

As with many new construction projects, there were a few final items to wrap up, the driveway paving was completed right on time, allowing us to remove the escrow holdback and keep everything moving smoothly to funding. 🙌

A huge thank you to Stephanie Wright for being an amazing partner throughout the process and helping make this dream a reality.

Thank you for trusting us with your journey home. We are so excited to welcome you to Alaska!

06/04/2026

Update: The official high for today is now up to 77°!
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Anchorage hit 76° today, making it the warmest day in 667 days! The last time we saw temperatures this warm was on August 5th, 2024. The warmest in all of 2025 was 72°. This is also the warmest temperature in the first week of June since 2022.

Address

1051 E Horvath Drive #102
Wasilla, AK
99654

Telephone

+19073134127

Website

http://LoansWithMel.com/, https://www.ampedmtg.com/our-team/melanie-camargo/

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