Saturday Strategy

Mortgage FAQ's, did you knows and much more...

Credit card usage is at all time highs and people are still spending like its 2021

P.S. Can I count on you to call us when any friends, family or coworkers are looking to buy, sell or refinance a home?  We'd love to help! You can just text/call me at 480.553.8770.

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Why Your Mortgage Is the Most Misunderstood Financial Tool in America

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 23, 2026

For most people, a mortgage is the largest financial decision they will ever make. Yet it’s often treated like a bill to get rid of as fast as possible. That’s where the misunderstanding starts. A mortgage is not just a loan. It’s a financial tool. And like any tool, how you use it matters more…

Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth.

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 21, 2026

It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim: “Big investors are buying up all the homes.” And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping…

Housing Activity Is Picking Up Heading Into Spring

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 19, 2026

Inside Lending For the week of JANUARY 19, 2026 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.”—Franklin P. Jones, American journalist, PR exec, and humorist NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE Existing Home Sales shot up 5.1% in December, the biggest increase for that month in nearly three years, while affordability…

How Taxes, Leverage, and Diversification Work Together to Build Wealth

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 16, 2026

When most people think about building wealth, they focus only on saving more or paying off debt faster. But real wealth is usually built by understanding how taxes, leverage, and diversification work together, especially when it comes to owning a home. Let’s break this down in a simple way. 1. Taxes: Keeping More of What…

Home Updates That Actually Pay You Back When You Sell

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 15, 2026

Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that’s actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards. Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So, it’s worth it to tackle repairs now and make sure your…

Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent?

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 14, 2026

It’s that they didn’t price their house correctly for their current market. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), those sellers agree pricing their home effectively was the hardest part of the process. Top 5 Most Difficult Task for Sellers Who Didn’t Use an Agent: And that makes sense. Pricing isn’t as simple as picking…

The Credit Score Myth That’s Holding Would-Be Buyers Back

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 13, 2026

Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit score that’s holding them back. According to a Bankrate survey, 2 out of every 5 (42%) Americans believe you need excellent credit to qualify for a mortgage. That may be why, when renters are asked…

2026 Opens With More Inventory, Lower Payments, and Opportunity

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 12, 2026

Inside lending For the week of JANUARY 12, 2026 QUOTE OF THE WEEK ““There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.”—Josh Billings, 19th century American humorist and lecturer NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE Single-family Housing Starts were up 5.4% in October to their highest level since July, with completions up 6%. Starts did decline…

Trump’s $200B MBS Announcement – What It Really Means for Rates

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 11, 2026

Read Time: ~3 Minutes Here’s a quick breakdown of the recent announcement around a potential $200B purchase of mortgage-backed securities through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and how to talk about it with clients. The headline: Yes, the administration announced plans to support lower mortgage rates by buying MBS. The reality behind it: Fannie Mae…

Expert Forecasts Point to Affordability Improving in 2026

By Kevin Brierton Team | January 10, 2026

Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news?…

P.S. Can I count on you to contact me if you hear that a friend, family or coworker is looking to buy, sell or refinance? Call/Text 480.553.8770 - We'd be honored to help them too!