Lila Amalbert

07/04/2023

07/04/2023

Happy 4th of July, everyone! 🇺🇸 Today, as we come together to celebrate our beautiful country, let's take a moment to appreciate the countless opportunities it has given us. From freedom to pursue our dreams to the chance to make a difference, we are truly blessed. Wishing you all a fantastic Independence Day filled with joy, gratitude, and fireworks! 🎆🎇

06/28/2023

Looking to purchase a home but don't have a hefty down payment? No worries! You can still make your dream of homeownership come true by leveraging your resources. With low down payment options available, you can secure a mortgage and start building equity in your own property. Don't let a lack of funds hold you back – explore your options and take advantage of various programs designed to help you get into a home with minimal upfront costs. It's time to turn your renting days into homeownership reality!

04/25/2022

🏡 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 👎
Although mortgage rates did end the week slightly higher, we're seeing signs that rates are stabilizing. Last week's moves were mainly due to markets reacting to the idea that the Fed would need to raise policy rates higher and sooner to get inflation under control.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 👎
It is looking like mortgage rates could improve a bit to begin the week, as the underlying market that rates are based on starts the week with some gains. However, it is important to realize that any improvements will be small and likely short lived, as rates are still trending higher. Although we could see rates creep up in smaller increments, we are still likely to see at least slightly higher rates as we head into May.

🗓️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
- Economic data: A full slate of data, including some housing data and a few Treasury auctions, but not likely much to pressure rates this week.
- Supply chain concerns: China has locked down over 25 million people due to a coronavirus outbreak, some for 3 weeks already, sparking fears of a supply chain crisis since products cannot be manufactured or shipped. This would add to current inflation problems, and pressure mortgage rates higher.

04/20/2022

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 '𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱' 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲!
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱.

What is the difference? 🤔

👉 Getting prequalified is the process of providing a mortgage lender with some background information like your credit, income, and expenses so the lender can help you determine how much you can afford and what you are likely to qualify for.

👉 A preapproval, however, means you've provided the lender with proof of your income and assets and had a credit check to determine exactly how much you can be approved for. In some cases, a preapproval can show you are approved for a loan before making an offer, which makes your offer stronger and could help you win a bidding war.

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲. 👍

I can provide either one, depending on your unique situation and where you are in the house hunting process.The best part? The conversation is absolutely free, and there's no obligation. 🏡 😁

04/18/2022

🏡 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 👎
Average mortgage rates moved higher last week as markets continued to prepare for the Fed to raise policy rates and reduce balance sheet holdings to slow down the economy and curb inflation.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 👍
Mortgage rates this week are likely to see small day-to-day movements and may end the week slightly worse, but shouldn't move too much higher unless something unforeseen happens. With very little economic data to provide direction, look for investors to listen to Fed comments to anticipate where rates will move next. It is highly unlikely we could see rates improve much from current levels, and holding out for better rates could be problematic. Whether buying a home or thinking of refinancing, it is a good time to discuss options with your mortgage professional before rates possibly move higher later this month.

🗓️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
- Economic data: The economic data and housing reports this week are unlikely to cause any rate movement.
- Fed speakers: This is the last week Fed members may make public comments before the blackout period for the next meeting begins April 23rd. Fed comments could cause day-to-day volatility in rates and pricing.

04/11/2022

🏡 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 👎
After a brief pause the previous week rates moved higher once again, this time because of Fed comments that it will be more aggressive in trying to reign in inflation. The moves the Fed would make to get inflation under control will slow down the economy and push consumer rates higher, so mortgage rates are reacting by moving higher.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 👎
Mortgage rates have been steadily rising since the beginning of the year, and that trend doesn't look ready to end this week. With a full week of economic data ahead of an early close for the Easter holiday, we could see volatility but ultimately are likely to see rates continue to worsen heading into next week. Be sure to stay in touch with your mortgage professional.

🗓️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
- Economic data: Lots of data this week including consumer and wholesale inflation data and retail sales reports, plus overseas central bank meetings and a few Treasury auctions. Any of these could affect rates this week.
- Fed speakers: Multiple Fed officials will be speaking this week, and their comments could affect rates.
- Easter holiday: Bond markets will be closed early Thursday and all day Friday in observance of Good Friday.

04/07/2022

🏡 Despite higher mortgage rates, home prices are being driven up with bidding wars 💰 and a lack of inventory, and that can be scary. So scary in fact that it may discourage some folks from looking to buy a home now, afraid that we are in a housing bubble.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟯 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗼...

✅ 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 🏡
Despite mortgage rates much higher than a year ago, demand remains strong. Inventory of homes for sale is currently running at less than 2 months, a historic low. A healthy inventory is about 6 months, and in 2008 we were actually up to as high as 11 months inventory.

✅ 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 👍
In 2008, when the housing market crashed, mortgage standards were at an all time low for credit scores and down payment requirements, as well as proving income and assets to purchase. Current guidelines are much stricter, making the borrowers more financially secure.

✅ 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 📈
Homeowners were pulling out equity back in 2008, causing many to be upside down. This time around equity levels are extremely high, meaning that homeowners could see values decline slightly without concern.

𝗜'𝗺 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲!

04/04/2022

🏡 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 👍
Average mortgage rates last week actually improved slightly, a welcome turn of events after seeing rates move higher over recent weeks. The moves were small though, mainly providing a slight improvement to rebate pricing rather than seeing actual rate improvement. Rebate pricing is the credit your lender can provide towards closing costs, or the cost to get a better rate (often referred to as "points").

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 ⚠️
Mortgage rates are not likely to improve much from here, and we could see rates worsen on Wednesday when the minutes are released from last month's Fed meeting. Markets will be looking for signals from the Fed on how it will be reducing its balance sheet - meaning that after buying trillions of dollars of bonds during the pandemic the Fed will begin selling off those assets, which increases supply of bonds and can drive prices down, which drives mortgage rates higher.

🗓️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
- Economic data: Nothing to note this week, other than the Fed meeting minutes on Wednesday.
- Russia/Ukraine: Still plays a role in markets, expected to continue this week.
- The Fed: Markets still trying to anticipate what the Fed will do to curb inflation.