Saturday Strategy

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

New Build Financing Insights

In the current market, some new build lenders offer substantial credits to lower interest rates. While this may seem appealing, it's crucial to evaluate the long-term implications. We recently reviewed a client's loan estimate with nearly $40,000 in credits to reduce interest rates, but the home's price was only $380,000. Essentially, they were paying almost 10% more for the house upfront. Yikes! Check out this weeks ​Saturday Strategy Video

Check this out... the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) exists to reflect the true interest rate. In some cases, it can be deceptively high, around 11 to 13%+, due to excessive upfront costs.

Don't rush into decisions. The lowest rate with the wrong strategy can cost you thousands.

Modern open-concept living room and kitchen.

Why More Buyers Are Turning to New Construction This Year

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 14, 2025

There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal. Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them. In fact, new home sales just…

Mortgage rates hit 1-year low headline.

Mortgage Rates Hit a 1-Year Low – Here’s What It Means for Buyers and Sellers

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 13, 2025

Your No Excuse Lender – Clear Communication, Great Follow-Up & On-Time Closings = No Excuses | Top 1% in US | Husband | Father | CLA | CMPS | Luminate Bank | NMLS 599873 NMLS 1281698 | Member FDIC October 13, 2025 Inside Lending For the week of OCTOBER 13, 2025 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Money…

Two women working on laptop and tablet.

Don’t Let Unrealistic Pricing Cost You Your Move

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 9, 2025

These days, you’re going to want to get your price right when you get ready to sell your house. Honestly, it’s more important than ever. Why? While you may want to list high just to see what happens, that’s a plan that can easily backfire, and it’s going to cost you in today’s market. And the risk…

Aerial view of peaceful suburban neighborhood.

Why Home Prices Aren’t Actually Flat

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 8, 2025

If you’ve been following real estate news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines saying home prices are flat. And at first glance, that sounds simple enough. But here’s the thing. The reality isn’t quite that straightforward. In most places, prices aren’t flat at all. What the Data Really Shows While we’ve definitely seen prices moderate from the rapid…

Percentage symbol dice scattered on blue background.

Why Experts Say Mortgage Rates Should Ease Over the Next Year

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 7, 2025

You want mortgage rates to fall – and they’ve started to. But is it going to last? And how low will they go? Experts say there’s room for rates to come down even more over the next year. And one of the leading indicators to watch is the 10-year treasury yield. Here’s why. The Link…

Inside Lending report, October 6, 2025.

Home Sales Strengthen as the Market Finds Its Balance

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 6, 2025

Inside Lending For the week of OCTOBER 6, 2025 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it’s just possible you haven’t grasped the situation.”—Jean Kerr, American author and playwright NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE The Pending Home Sales measure of signed contracts on existing homes ended the summer…

People talking in a modern kitchen.

Why October Is the Best Time To Buy a Home in 2025

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 3, 2025

If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in. It’s officially the best time to buy this year. According to Realtor.com, this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025: “By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they’ve…

Hand using calculator on a desk.

What Buyers Say They Need Most (And How the Market’s Responding)

By Kevin Brierton Team | October 1, 2025

A recent survey from Bank of America asked would-be homebuyers what would help them feel better about making a move, and it’s no surprise the answers have a clear theme. They want affordability to improve, specifically prices and rates (see below): Here’s the good news. While the broader economy may still feel uncertain, there are signs the housing market…

Inside Lending newsletter cover, September 2025.

New Home Sales Surge, Buyers Gain Options

By Kevin Brierton Team | September 30, 2025

Inside Lending – Week of September 29, 2025 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.”—John Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian-American economist NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE New home sales jumped more than 20% in August, up more than 15% from a year ago. Plus, median sales prices are down more than…

Two women having a business meeting.

Closing Costs Unpacked: State-by-State Breakdowns for Today’s Buyers

By Kevin Brierton Team | September 29, 2025

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing costs. Almost every buyer knows they exist, but not that many know exactly what they cover, or how different they can be based on where you’re buying. So, let’s break them down. What Are Closing Costs? Your closing…

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!