Thursday, December 11, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Your Home Might Be Holding the Key to Your Next Chapter
Stuck in a house that no longer fits your life… but feel trapped by rising mortgage rates?You’re not alone, it’s one of the most common pain points among homeowners right now.
But what if the answer was already in your home , literally?
Your equity could change everything about your next move.
The Wealth You’ve Built May Be Bigger Than You Think
Let’s talk about equity: the real, often hidden, wealth that builds as you pay down your mortgage and as home values increase over time.
Each mortgage payment reduces your loan balance. At the same time, home prices tend to rise steadily. Put those two together, and you’ve been growing wealth every single month, likely without even realizing how much.
And if you've owned your home for over a decade, the amount of equity you’ve built might surprise you.
According to Realtor.com:
“Nearly half (45.2%) of today’s homeowners ...
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Thursday, December 4, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Why More Homeowners Are Giving Up Their Low Mortgage Rate
If you’re one of the many homeowners sitting on a 2–3% mortgage rate, you’ve likely thought:“I’d love to move… but not if it means giving up this great rate.”
You're not alone — that low rate may feel like your best financial asset. But here’s the reality:A low rate doesn’t help if the home no longer fits your life.
And as the data shows, more and more homeowners are reaching the same conclusion.
Homeowners Are Giving Up Their Low Rates
The “lock-in effect” — where homeowners stay put to hold on to their low mortgage - has been strong. But it’s starting to ease.
According to the latest data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the share of homeowners with rates below 3% is trending down, while more are taking on 6%+ rates — despite the cost.
And it's not just a blip.
In fact, the number of mortgages with a rate ...
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Wednesday, October 29, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Why Today’s Mortgage Rates Might Be Better Than You Think (For Buyers AND Sellers)
Let’s face it — mortgage rates have been the elephant in the room for a while now. Whether you're buying your first home or thinking about selling and moving up, you've probably found yourself hesitating.
If you're a homebuyer, maybe you're telling yourself: “I’ll wait until rates drop below 6%... THEN I’ll start looking again.”
And if you're a home seller, you might be thinking:“Buyers are waiting on lower rates — I should hold off until next year.”
But here’s the truth: waiting could cost you — and not just emotionally, but financially, too.
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
We all love the idea of snagging a 5.99% mortgage rate. But what’s the real impact on your wallet?
Take a look at this:
The difference between today’s rate (6.19%) and 5.99% on a $400,000 mortgage?Just $51.65 per month.
That&rsquo ...
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Wednesday, September 10, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Mortgage Rates Just Dropped - Here's What That Means for You
If you’re a homebuyer who’s been feeling stuck — watching prices stay high and mortgage rates refuse to budge — you’re not alone. But last week, something finally shifted.
And it could make the home you’ve been dreaming of a whole lot more affordable.
Big News: Mortgage Rates Just Took Their Biggest Dip in Over a Year
On Friday, September 5th, average 30-year fixed mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point since October 2024.
It was the biggest single-day drop in over 12 months.
This change wasn’t random. It came right after the August jobs report showed weaker-than-expected numbers for the second month in a row. That kind of data tells financial markets that the economy may be cooling, which often causes mortgage rates to fall.
Why It Matters for You
This isn't just another economic headline — this is real money in your pocket.
Take a look at the chart below ...
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Thursday, September 4, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
What Mortgage Delinquencies Really Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures
If you've seen alarming headlines about foreclosure activity recently, you're not alone. Whether you're planning to buy a home or sell one, it’s natural to feel uneasy when the word “foreclosure” makes the news. But before jumping to conclusions or feeling like we’re heading toward another 2008-style crash, let’s take a closer look at what the data really shows — and what it means for both buyers and sellers today.
For Sellers: Why the Sky Isn't Falling
If you’re a homeowner looking to sell, the fear of another foreclosure wave — and the price drops that come with it — can be a big emotional trigger. But here’s the truth: we’re nowhere near a repeat of the housing crash.
Between 2007 and 2011, over nine million homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure. Last year? That number was just over 300,000.
Even with a recent uptick, we’re t ...
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