08/07/2026
Renovations
One of the biggest objections in today's market is "I can't afford renovations after buying".
This translates to listings lasting a little longer on the market, and buyers avoiding homes that need renovating.
The irony is, these properties can often times be the most affordable, even when taking renovations into account.
The question becomes, do buyers know their options?
Here are three simple options for a buyer to consider before counting out the homes that need renovating:
Renovation Loan: Allows buyers to finance repairs or upgrades into the mortgage rather than paying out of pocket.
**Lowering Down Payment: **Buyers can explore lower down payment options, including programs as low as 0% down, preserving more of their available cash for renovations.
**Seller Concessions: **Buyers can use concessions to eliminate or offset closing costs, freeing up cash to put toward renovations.
Allow us to present every option to your buyers before they count out a home that may actually be the right opportunity.
What’s Up With Rates?
Keep Your Hands In
Remember riding a roller coaster as a kid?
The climb created tension. The drop created excitement. And just when we thought the ride was settling down, up we went again.
Mortgage rates have felt much the same for the last three years.
Rates continue moving within a familiar range, with day-to-day fluctuations driven by economic data. On a monthly basis, two of the strongest influences remain inflation and employment reports.
As inflation rises, rates tend to feel pressure. As inflation softens, the outlook becomes more encouraging.
But after three years of ups and downs, one thing remains constant… there is opportunity in any market that outweighs sitting on the sidelines.
Today, many buyers are using their negotiating leverage to secure seller concessions that cover closing costs, buy down their interest rate, and lower their monthly payment.
If we remain true to our strategy and message, interest rates and the roller coaster that has ensued in the last few years becomes less impactful to our buyers.
We can’t control the roller coaster.
We can control how we prepare our buyers for the ride.
The opportunity is there. It is our job to take it.
Here are the average mortgage rates as of August 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: Average mortgage rates as of August 6, 2026. © MND Daily Rate Index.
Some Inspiration!
Never Split the Difference
When former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss wrote Never Split the Difference, he challenged one of the oldest beliefs in business… that the best negotiation ends when both sides simply meet in the middle.
His experience taught him something very different.
Compromise simply for the sake of meeting in the middle can leave both sides with less than what actually mattered to them.
In real estate, a buyer and seller can split the difference on price and still both lose.
The better question is:
What does each side actually value?
Maybe it's price. Maybe it's payment. Maybe it's closing date, concessions, certainty, or terms.
Great negotiators don't just find the middle. They find what matters.
And finding what matters begins with listening.
Before solving a problem, Voss learned to understand the fears, motivations, and emotions driving the person across the table. Only then could he help move the conversation toward a solution.
This principle doesn’t just apply to negotiation with the other side, but also to the relationship we build with our clients.
Whether presenting a pricing strategy or helping a buyer work through uncertainty, our greatest advantage isn't having the perfect response. It's asking better questions.
It’s listening with genuine curiosity and helping people feel understood before attempting to persuade them.
When clients know we've taken the time to understand what truly matters to them, better outcomes often follow naturally.
The strongest negotiators don't win by talking more.
They win by understanding more.
Keep winning, keep listening, keep negotiating.
Seeking Winners
Winners Hang with Winners
Whether new to mortgage or existing there is now opportunity to join our winning team and make an impact.
Do you know any winners that aren't in the right situation or reaching their potential?
Let's connect. Rose Home Reality Homewithrose.com With Allison James Estates and Homes. It's Always about the Client, Not us. Work 707.872.7111 C 951.551.4800
