Month: November 2025

A recent topic with the agencies was on using cryptocurrency as a viable, qualifiable asset for mortgages. Another proposal on 50-year mortgages. If the narrative isn’t already loud enough, here’s the plain question: How do we get more Americans (especially younger ones) into homes? It’s a worthwhile venture (the sentiment, not the 50-year mortgage), especially when the average mortgage 30-year rate remains stubbornly above 6.5%. Ongoing pressures from the recent government shutdown,…

For our Clients, Colleagues, and Friends, All of you know a lot about mortgages, but not too many of you know much about mortgage REITs. These are publicly traded companies that own pools of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Throw in some leverage and you get eye-popping dividend yields. But there are reasons to be cautious about this, so give us a call if you want to discuss. Last week I mentioned some of my assistants. One of the most interesting assistants was Chloe. She was a Film…

Zillow appearing inside ChatGPT changes where discovery begins. It does not mean agents and lenders should lean on Zillow. It means more buyers will describe what they want in a general assistant first, then see results that may flow through a portal. Your advantage comes from meeting consumers before that first portal touch and making your expertise the easiest next step. What Shifts and What to Do About It 1) Conversation Is the New Search Box Publish short, plain-English answers on your…

Imagine being handed a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and a couple freeze dried food pouches, then told you’ve just joined an expedition to climb Mount Everest… Except, there’s no compass, no tent, and no bear spray…. That’s us right now. We’re bushwacking our way through an unsolicited economic experiment, with no clear sight of base camp. And the longer this shutdown drags on, the lower our visibility becomes. The only thing keeping us from traversing off the side of this cliff are…