Brook Criazzo & Aubre Cheshire - Bend Real Estate

09/30/2026

The Mortgage Rate You See Online Isn’t Necessarily the One You’d Get.

Headlines and social media make today’s rates sound high. But you have to remember, the rate you’re seeing online and your actual rate could be different. The only way to know what your rate could be is to talk to a trusted lender.

With the right help, you can find out what your real rate is – and where it can take you.

09/28/2026

Does one size ever really fit all? One mortgage rate doesn't either.

You may be seeing today’s higher rates and worrying about whether it’s still worth it to buy. Here’s what you need to realize…

Mortgage rates differ just like the people who apply for loans. So, the rate you see online isn’t necessarily the one you’d get when you buy.

Your real mortgage rate is specific to your individual situation. It can be higher or lower than what you've seen or heard.

So, don’t assume the rate in the headlines is your rate. Before you decide you can't buy a home or that you should wait, find out what your real rate is. You'll know what your options are and get a map to what's possible.

And a quick conversation with a loan officer is the perfect place to start.

09/26/2026

There Are 4 Types of Housing Markets Right Now. Which 1 Are You In?

Four different housing markets are running at once: cash buyers, financed buyers, locked-in owners, and builders. Each one plays by its own rules, and the right move for one is exactly the wrong move for another.

Let's figure out which one you're actually in and build your next move from there.

Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types. You’ve got cash buyers, buyers financing a purchase, owners who feel locked into a low rate, and builders with homes to sell.

09/25/2026

Daily-use furniture should prioritize durability.

An interior designer shares the furniture pieces she never splurges on. Skip these costly investments in favor of timeless pieces with staying power.

09/25/2026

Price cuts have climbed for 7 straight months.

Right now, more than 4 in 10 homes for sale have already had one, and it usually comes down to one thing – the market's moving faster than most sellers expected and their pricing hasn’t necessarily kept up.

A home that needs a cut usually just sat too long priced above what buyers will actually pay right now.

Selling soon? Let's set your number right from day one, so you skip that wasted time.

House hunting? A home that's had its price reduced means the seller's already been through that wait. And sellers who've been sitting are usually ready to deal.

09/23/2026

Mortgage rates have been climbing again, and if you're hoping to buy, that can feel discouraging.

Here’s what you have to remember.

You can't control where rates go. But you can control a few things that shape the rate you actually get: your credit score, the type and term of loan you choose, and whether you buy a newly built home, where builders are often buying down rates to bring buyers in.

Focus there, and you put yourself in a stronger spot without waiting on the market.

Want to talk it through? A trusted lender can help with the numbers, and we can find the home to match. Let's connect.

09/21/2026

Selling This Fall? You Want To Get These 4 Things Right.

Selling this fall is absolutely doable. And now you know four of the biggest things to get right.

If you want to sell before the end of the year, let’s make sure you have a winning strategy from day one.

Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable. But there’s something you need to know about this time of year.

09/19/2026

Waiting for mortgage rates to come down may feel like the only way to make buying a home possible.

But 41% of buyers who waited wish they'd bought sooner – before rates and prices rose again.

Right now, factors like inflation, the economy, and global events are all having an impact on rates – and it’s not in the direction you’d hope.

So, for a lot of buyers, waiting might not pay off. Sometimes it just means putting your life on hold for what feels like too long.

Before you decide to hit pause on your move, talk to a trusted lender. They’ll go over options that can help make buying work at today’s rates, and how to get the best rate you can.

You certainly don’t have to buy now. You should buy when the numbers work for you. But you should at least know your options before making a decision.

09/18/2026

Understanding your options can make the car shopping process easier.

When deciding whether to buy a new or used car, knowing the pros and cons of each can help with your decision.

09/18/2026

Selling this fall? Starting strong matters even more this time of year.

In the fall, buyer activity typically starts to slow while the number of homes for sale climbs. That means fewer buyers may be looking at more options – so you want your house to stand out from day one.

Here’s the cheat sheet for how to make that happen.

Price it for today’s buyers. Not what your neighbor sold for a few years back.

Make your house hard to pass up. Tackle essential repairs and spend time on your curb appeal.

Stay flexible when offers come in. This is not the season to play hardball.

And be ready to adjust when needed. If you keep getting the same feedback from buyers, take it to heart.

If you want to sell before the end of the year, let’s make sure you have the right strategy from the start. Because with the right plan, selling in the fall is a no brainer.