Articles on the home-purchase process, first-time homebuyer guidance, market timing, and steps to homeownership.
How much income do you need to buy a $500K, $750K, or $1M home? Illustrative tables using 7.5% rate + 20% down + OC tax: approximately $95K-$290K depending on DTI ratio. Three ratios lenders actually use + why 43% DTI is a floor, not a ceiling.
September 2026 jobs report cold at +29K vs 100-150K consensus, yet mortgage rates rose 7 bp to 7.61% by Oct 5. Why? Mortgage rates = 10Y Treasury + MBS spread + lender margin. Four candidate drivers of divergence from the obvious macro signal.
BLS Sept 2026 jobs report: +29K payrolls vs 100-150K consensus. Unemployment 4.2%. July revised to -10K, Aug to +133K (combined -60K). Dovish surprise. Historical rate response: illustrative 15-40 bp lower in 24-72 hours.
The BLS releases Sept 2026 Employment Situation Report Fri Oct 2 at 5:30am PT. First major labor data since the Fed hike. Three scenarios (cold/consensus/hot) + illustrative 10-40 bp mortgage rate impact ranges. What to do with active rate lock decisions.
HELOC vs cash-out refi vs HELOAN: which wins in a higher-for-longer rate environment? Three-question decision framework, illustrative rate comparison, three worked scenarios for sub-5% mortgage holders and high-rate borrowers. All examples illustrative.
Should you refinance in 2026 after the Fed hike? Depends on your rate, closing costs, holding period, and program. Three paths still work: VA IRRRL / FHA Streamline, cash-out debt consolidation, and OnPoint Zero to Hero. Full break-even math on $450K refi. All illustrative.
Should you wait to buy a home until mortgage rates drop? After the Fed hiked 25 bp Sept 16, dot plot signals no cuts through 2027. Three real costs of waiting: home price appreciation, rent paid with zero equity, and rate-timing lottery. Date the rate, marry the house.
Fed hiked 25 bp Sept 16 to 3.75-4.00% in unanimous 12-0 vote, opposite of the 80% cut probability bond markets priced. Dot plot signals no cuts through 2027. Mortgage rates likely jump 30-75 bp in 48-72 hours. What to do with existing locks, floats, and shopping quotes.
Fed dot plot updates Wed Sept 16 with the FOMC decision. 19 Fed policymakers plot federal funds rate projections for 2026, 2027, 2028, longer-run. Median dot moves mortgage rates 15-40 bp in 24-72 hrs. Watch the 2027 median for hawkish or dovish surprise.
The 8-point mortgage rate shopping checklist for September 2026: Loan Estimate, note rate, APR, discount points, lender fees, credits, third-party costs, lock terms. CFPB says shopping 5 lenders saves ~$3,000. Same-day quote discipline. Red flags to watch for.