Robert Clark, Loan Consultant, BRE 01148307 NMLS 357788

09/26/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6ab6fa783e522597915dc744?s=em

At 9:44am ET on Wednesday, this week's rate story was mostly about waiting for next week's economic data. At 9:45, an unlikely report made the wait a lot more uncomfortable.

09/18/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6aada9013e522597915b7b19?s=em

It's a common refrain in this newsletter: The Fed does not hike/cut mortgage rates and the two can often move in opposite directions in the short-term.

09/11/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6aa470253e522597915933d7?s=em

Mortgage rates moved sharply higher this week, ultimately reaching their highest levels since early 2025. Most of the damage took place on Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday ultimately made things slightly worse. The average top-tier 30yr fixed rate rose almost a quarter of a percent in total.

09/09/2026

Buying a Home Starts with Knowing Your Options

** Explore FHA, VA, USDA and conventional home loan options for Central Valley buyers, including low down payments, down payment assistance, and pre-approval strategies.

09/04/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6a9b2e9d3e5225979156ecc8?s=em

Mortgage rates hit their highest level since June 2025 this week. While that milestone sounds ominous, it was the product of gradual movement and logical motivations.

08/28/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6a91fa733e5225979154a117?s=em

Mortgage rates were on track for a fairly uneventful week until Friday morning, when a speech from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh triggered a sharp bond market sell-off. The average top-tier 30yr fixed rate jumped to its highest level in just over 3 weeks.

08/21/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6a88b4753e522597915258c1?s=em

Mortgage rates ended the week moderately higher, but things could have been slightly worse without Wednesday's surprisingly sharp drop in longer-term Treasury yields (a key benchmark for mortgage rates). The cause was an announcement about Treasury's bond buyback program--a subject that made far mo...

08/14/2026

https://housingnewsletters.com/firestonefinancial/6a7f85363e5225979150165f?s=em

Rates may still be elevated in a general sense, but by the end of the week, they were as low as they've been since July 17th. If we have one thing to thank, it was this week's inflation data.

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

There's More Than One Way to Qualify for a Mortgage

Explore mortgage options for self-employed borrowers, 1099 workers, business owners, commissions professionals, gig workers, investors, and retirees throughout California's Central Valley. Learn about Bank Statement, DSCR, Asset Utilization, ITIN, Community Mortgage, and other financing solutions th...