Month: May 2026

“May the 4th be with you!” I am sure that Fannie and Freddie have their share of Stars Wars fans. Speaking of which, the industry is talking about their earnings: Fannie Mae had $3.7 billion of net income, Freddie Mac had net income of $3.6 billion. Regular and frequent information like this is critical to make informed decisions, whether you’re thinking about buying stock or buying a home. I recently received this note. “Rob, occasionally I am asked by my clients, and friends, if there is a…

The wars in Ukraine and Iran, and the demand by data centers, have reminded us of how important energy is as well as how the costs are borne by citizens around the world, and in the U.S. at the pump. Lenders know that energy influences the economy, and the economy moves interest rates. For example, although it is not in the headlines every day and is facing headwinds in the United States, globally the wind industry has the wind at its back. Last year was a bona fide bonanza for wind power…

“I was gonna tell a joke about time traveling. But you guys didn’t like it.” It is hard to believe that 2026 is a third over, or that Top Gun debuted 40 years ago this month. Something else to note is that the use of down payment assistance has risen sharply over the past year and a half, especially among FHA borrowers. Participation has jumped from 7.5 percent at the start of 2025 to over 21 percent recently, near the highest levels in years, as high home prices and borrowing costs push more…