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Stringham Mortgage Team Local, Authentic Loan Officer with 13 years experience. I offer personalized and excellent customer

10/09/2026

Inventory is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels and buyers finally have choices again.

Sellers are saying yes to concessions, buydowns, and closing cost help. A smart buydown strategy can turn today’s payment into tomorrow’s refinance win. And with contract cancellations at their highest since 2022 prepared backup buyers are winning homes right now.

That is how your buyers win in this market.

The agents who win this season will reframe the conversation around payment instead of rate and around opportunity instead of fear.

If you have buyers sitting on the sidelines send them my way and I will run the numbers that get them off the fence.

09/24/2026

Mortgage rates just moved from 6.76 to 6.95 and here is what that actually means for buyers right now.

Yes the Fed raised rates a quarter point. Yes Freddie Mac's national 30-year benchmark came in at 6.95. But here is where buyers are getting themselves in trouble.

The only headline most people are seeing is rates are 7 percent. And so they pull back. They wait. They assume every mortgage for every borrower is going to be at or above that number. And that assumption is costing them.

Here is what that Freddie Mac number actually is. It is a national weekly benchmark based on conventional conforming applications. What your actual rate will be depends on your loan program, your credit score, your down payment, the property, occupancy, points, credits, and a range of other factors. That is why you have a mortgage professional in your corner.

And before you assume the answer is to spend a lot of money buying down the rate, let me show you the math first. Because right now sellers are helping with financing costs regularly. Sometimes a price reduction makes more sense. Sometimes keeping the cash in your pocket makes more sense. The answer depends on your specific situation.

Here is the real question worth asking. What would bother you more: a rate around 7 percent or paying today's home price in six months when more buyers come back into the market?

What if a home listed at $725,000 came in at $625,000 or $650,000? What if the seller offered a 2-1 buydown that took your rate down to 5 percent in year one, 6 percent in year two, with a plan to refinance before you hit the full rate? There are real options on the table right now that disappear when the crowd comes back.

The biggest opportunity is right now. When the most people are pulling back is exactly when you need to be focused in.

Reach out and let's run the actual numbers for your situation.

09/22/2026

If you live in Weber or Davis County and you have been thinking about getting an electric bike do not buy one until you hear this.

Weber State and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality are offering vouchers worth $400 to $800 toward an e-bike purchase. And this is not just for Weber State students. Any qualifying adult in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, or Utah County can apply.

But here is the catch: the application window is only September 21st through September 25th. That is it.

The program is designed to get more people using e-bikes instead of cars for shorter trips and commuting. And $400 to $800 off is a serious incentive to finally pull the trigger on one.

If you have been on the fence about an e-bike this might be the nudge you needed.

Apply here: https://www.weber.edu/sustainability/solutions/E-Bikes.html

09/04/2026

This week's housing market update is focused on something every buyer and seller is watching: inflation and what the Federal Reserve does next.

Recent economic data continues to show that inflation remains a major factor influencing the Fed's decisions. Policymakers are balancing the goal of keeping inflation under control while supporting a healthy economy. That balancing act is producing uncertainty in the rate environment and that uncertainty is trickling down directly into buyer and seller behavior.

But here is the thing about uncertainty in real estate that most people miss.

For consumers uncertainty feels like a reason to wait. For real estate professionals uncertainty is an opportunity to become the most trusted voice in the room.

Your clients do not need someone who can predict exactly what the Fed will do next or where rates will land in six months. Nobody can do that reliably. What they need is someone who can clearly explain what is happening right now and help them understand what their actual options are in this specific environment.

That is the value you can provide that no algorithm or headline can replace.

This is a great time to reconnect with your database. Check in with past clients who may be watching the news and wondering what it means for them. Educate buyers who have been waiting for the perfect moment that may never arrive exactly as they imagined it.

The agents and lenders who consistently provide real value and help people make informed decisions will be the ones who stay top of mind when opportunities arise. And opportunities are arising right now for buyers who understand how to use the current market.

08/26/2026

Three years of construction headaches in Roy, Utah are officially over and the story behind this project is actually bigger than a road.

The massive rebuild of the 5600 South and I-15 interchange is essentially complete. UDOT spent $238 million on just this one stretch. They widened 5600 South, completely reworked the interchange, added pedestrian and bike connections, and acquired approximately 60 properties along the way to make it all fit.

But here is why this matters beyond just a smoother commute.

A UDOT spokesman summed up northern Utah's growth in one sentence: most of the growth in Weber and Davis counties is happening west of I-15.

Think about what that means. West Haven. Hooper. Syracuse. West Point. Clinton. All of the communities on the west side of the interstate are where the growth is going. And this interchange is the gateway to all of it.

Right next to the interchange sits Northrop Grumman's Roy campus. They already employ over 5,000 people and they are still expanding. Jobs are being posted right now if you want to look.

When we talk about northern Utah's growth it is not just about houses. It is about roads, jobs, and infrastructure all being rebuilt at the same time right around where people are moving. That combination historically drives real estate values and it is playing out in real time right here.

For anyone watching the 5600 South corridor keep your eyes open. The opportunity along this stretch is real.

Was the three-year headache worth it? Drop your answer in the comments.

08/26/2026

Something pretty interesting is happening in Northern Utah right now and it is worth paying attention to.

Mortgage rates have actually moved lower two weeks in a row. Freddie Mac's national 30-year average went from 6.69 to 6.67 to 6.65 this week. Not a massive move but the direction has changed. After weeks of pressure we are seeing the beginning of a down tick.

Now here is the part I think is considerably more important than the rate movement itself.

According to Zillow's latest data approximately 46 percent of homes sold below asking price in Weber County. Davis County is also at 46 percent. Salt Lake County is at 47 percent. Nearly half of all homes selling below asking price.

And here is what makes that data really significant: home values in all three counties are still slightly higher than a year ago. This is not a housing crash. Values are holding. But buyers are negotiating and they are winning.

What we are seeing right now is what I would call a negotiation market. And that means buyers need to stop leading with one question and start asking a better one.

Stop asking what is the interest rate. Start asking what can I negotiate on this house with this seller.

Because right now the right seller may save you substantially more money through seller-paid financing concessions, price reductions, closing cost contributions, and other negotiated terms than waiting around hoping for rates to magically drop even a full percent.

Even if rates went to 5 percent. For many buyers the deals being negotiated today produce payments lower than that scenario anyway.

Your home is out there. The right seller is out there. And the payment you never thought was possible might actually be possible right now.

Drop in the comments: if you were buying today what would you need to make you move? I want to hear it.

Kyle Stringham. Have a fantastic day.

08/19/2026

Something big is being discussed in South Ogden right now and if you live in the area or are thinking about buying here you need to know about it.

South Ogden is considering a master plan that would essentially create an entirely new downtown where one does not currently exist. We are talking about the stretch of Washington Boulevard from roughly 36th Street up to 40th Street. About 61 acres of land running from the Macy's shopping center all the way up to the Big Lots and the second-hand store area.

Here is what the planning documents envision. 1,000 residential units including condos and townhomes in multi-family high-rise format. 380,000 square feet of new commercial space. 75,000 square feet of offices and business space. A public plaza. Walkable areas. Event space. And a genuine downtown feel that South Ogden has never really had before including potentially a venue for concerts and community events.

Now before anyone gets concerned this is important to understand. Nobody has approved anything. The South Ogden City Council is only considering this proposal right now. This is a long-term master plan conversation not a done deal. There is a long road between today and any shovels in the ground.

Some residents are already raising concerns about traffic, parking, the impact on existing businesses, and whether this level of development changes South Ogden's identity in ways the community does not want.

My honest take is that done right with real community input this kind of development could be a meaningful improvement for South Ogden. But done wrong or pushed through without listening to the people who actually live here it could create exactly the problems residents are worried about.

So I want to hear from you. Would a real downtown on Washington Boulevard be a win for South Ogden? Or is 1,000 new residential units and that much development too much change for the city? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

08/19/2026

Some encouraging economic news came out this week and it is worth understanding what it means for real estate right now.

Both consumer and wholesale inflation showed signs of cooling this week. Here is why that matters. Lower inflation can reduce pressure on the bond market and help create a more favorable environment for mortgage rates over time. Rates are also influenced by employment data, Federal Reserve expectations, and other economic developments so no single data point tells the whole story. But cooling inflation is a constructive signal worth paying attention to.

At the same time buyers in many markets have more negotiating power than they realize right now.

More homes are available than we have seen in years. Some sellers are actively reducing their prices. And buyers may be able to negotiate closing cost assistance or a temporary rate buydown that meaningfully changes the payment picture without waiting for rates to move on their own.

The takeaway is not to wait for the perfect rate or try to time the market. It is to understand the real opportunities that exist right now and position yourself to take advantage of them.

If you stepped away from the market at some point this year this may be a good time to reconnect, update your numbers, and see what may actually be possible for you today.

Reach out and let's take a fresh look at where things stand.

08/07/2026

Kyle Stringham here from kylestringham.com, your trusted mortgage advisor. Let's talk about what just happened with the Fed and what it means for you here in Utah right now.

On July 29th the Federal Reserve announced they are leaving interest rates unchanged. This is exactly what most people expected. The market has been influenced by so many factors: the bond market, inflation, the overall economy, the conflict in Iran. There is a lot being worked through and holding steady was the right call for now.

But here is what I want you to focus on. What is actually happening in our Utah market right now.

Sellers are becoming very negotiable. And I am not just talking about price drops. I am talking about creative deal structures that get both sides of the table exactly what they need.

A 2-1 buydown that lowers your rate for the first two years. Seller-paid closing costs. Debt coverage built into the offer. There are financing options available today that we simply could not do four years ago and that is genuinely exciting if you know how to use them.

A real negotiation is not just two sides fighting over a number. It is two people coming together to understand what each one needs to make the deal work. Sometimes you are far apart and it is not the right fit. But sometimes you just need someone to crack the gate open a little and suddenly both sides can come together on terms that work.

The best deals of the year are happening right now. Sellers are motivated. Financing tools are creative. And next year you are going to be very happy you got in when you did.

Head to kylestringham.com or reach out directly and let's work through the numbers for your specific situation.

07/16/2026

Your mortgage payment is fixed but your total monthly payment might not be and here is exactly why that happens.

When you have a fixed-rate mortgage, what is actually fixed is your principal and interest payment. But if you have an escrow account your lender is also collecting money every month for property taxes and homeowners insurance. And those are absolutely not fixed. When your county reassesses your home and raises your taxes, or your insurance company increases your premium, your total monthly payment goes up even though your interest rate never changed by a single point.

Sometimes the increase feels even bigger than expected because your escrow account was short from the previous year. Your servicer is not just collecting for the new higher amounts going forward. They are also collecting extra to make up for the shortfall from before. That combination can feel like a significant jump that seems to come out of nowhere.

Your lender did not change your rate. The cost of owning the home around the mortgage changed. Here is what you can do about it. Review your escrow analysis every single year so you understand what is changing and why. Shop your homeowners insurance regularly because rates vary significantly between carriers. And check whether you can appeal your property tax assessment because in many counties successful appeals are more common than most homeowners realize.

Follow me for more mortgage tips that homeowners usually learn the hard way.

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