The Cushion Got Tested Last week, I wrote about something most mortgage borrowers never hear about: the spread between the 10-year Treasury and mortgage rates. That spread had narrowed enough to help keep mortgage rates below 7%, even while the 10-year Treasury remained unusually high. I probably should have knocked on wood. Because this week,…

Mortgage Rates Could Be Higher. So Why Aren’t They? Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.71% this week, up from 6.66% last week. The 15-year average was 6.04%. Those rates are higher than buyers would prefer, but viewed over the long history of mortgage lending, the upper-6% range is not particularly extraordinary.…

Congress has been quiet during the August recess, and there were no major new veterans benefits or VA home-loan laws passed this week. That changes Monday. The House returns to legislative business on August 31, while the Senate will remain in its state work period until September 14. House of Representatives When lawmakers return, there…

Congress is still enjoying its August recess, so there were no major votes on veterans legislation this week. But something worth watching is beginning to take shape. A bipartisan group of members of Congress has formed a Military & Veteran Housing Caucus specifically focused on housing stability, homeownership, financial readiness and the housing challenges faced…

A Little Rate Relief — and a Lot Less Inventory Mortgage rates moved down again this week. Not dramatically. Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage declined to 6.65%, from 6.67% the week before. The 15-year average dipped to 5.95%. It was the second consecutive weekly decline. Two basis points isn’t going to…

Florida Is Still Growing. But Buyers Are Using More Scrutiny. There is a lot of economic information flying around this week. Inflation. Interest rates. The Fed. The stock market. All of it matters. But most people I talk to aren’t sitting around wondering what the bond market did yesterday. They’re asking something much more practical:…

The Give and Take: One Veteran Benefit Changed August 1. A VA Loan Fee Increase Did Not. Published August 8, 2026 There is a lot being said about veterans’ benefits in Washington right now. This week is a good example of why it is important to separate something that has actually changed from something Congress…

The Market Is Telling Two Different Stories Mortgage rates moved higher again this week. Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.69%, up from 6.66% last week and 6.63% a year ago. That marks the fifth consecutive weekly increase. The 15-year average actually eased slightly to 6.01%. At the same time, mortgage applications…

Mortgage Minute: The Market Is Changing in Ways Most People Don’t Expect Mortgage rates moved higher again this week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rising to 6.66%, the highest level in a year. At the same time, the 10-year Treasury yield pushed toward 4.7%, reflecting continued concerns about inflation and global uncertainty. Freddie Mac…

What’s Happening Mortgage rates moved slightly higher again this week. Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.58%, up from 6.55% last week. While that’s the highest average in nearly a year, it’s only a modest increase of three basis points. The increase reflects continued pressure from higher Treasury yields, inflation concerns, and…