Recent Posts

For sale sign outside a home as rising mortgage rates make buying less affordable

Mortgage Rates Near 7 Percent Push Home Buyers to Wait as 30 Year Loans Hit a 14 Month High and Fed Policy Keeps the Market on Edge

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

Freddie Mac says borrowing costs are rising again, squeezing affordability and adding pressure to an already strained housing market.

A house model beside a calculator and mortgage rate chart

Mortgage Rates Hover Above 7% as Housingwire Says War, Oil Prices and a New Fed Hike Cycle Could Push U.S. Borrowing Costs Toward 8% or Back to 6%

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

HousingWire’s latest housing tracker says conflict-driven oil moves, wider spreads and Fed guidance may decide whether rates keep climbing or cool off.

Salt Lake City house with a buyer weighing monthly mortgage costs and repair expenses

Salt Lake City Homebuyer’s $455,000 Purchase Draws Questions as Monthly Housing Costs, Radon Repairs and Thin Savings Test the Budget

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

A Utah first-time buyer asked whether a house payment would leave enough room for everyday expenses, and commenters warned that ownership costs often run well beyond the mortgage.

Kitchen sponge near a sink with cleaning supplies in a New York apartment

New Research on Household Germs Finds Kitchen Sponges, Indoor Air and Dust Can Make New York Homes Dirtier Than Residents Expect

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

Studies cited by a Queens cleaning company point to sponges, dust and indoor air as the biggest hidden health issues in apartments and houses.

A calculator, house keys and mortgage paperwork on a table

First-Time Buyer Approved for $440,000 Says a $3,600 Mortgage Would Consume Half of Household Take-Home Pay and Leave Little Room for Basics

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

A Reddit post about a large pre-approval highlights the gap between what lenders approve and what buyers can actually manage each month.

A veteran with house keys in front of a suburban home

VA Says Veterans Can Reuse Home Loan Entitlement and May Be Leaving Six-Figure Benefits Untapped When Buying Another House

 Joshua Adkins  September 20, 2026

The agency says the home loan benefit is lifelong, not one-time, and the remaining entitlement can support another purchase.

A house model sits beside mortgage rate figures on a financial chart

National Mortgage Rates Climb Above 7 Percent as Zillow Puts the Average 30 Year Fixed Loan at 7.05 Percent and Refinance Costs Edge Higher

 Joshua Adkins  September 19, 2026

Zillow’s latest national averages show borrowing costs rising after the first Fed rate increase in three years, with 30-year loans back above 7%.

House keys and a calculator beside paperwork for a home loan

Freddie Mac Says 30 Year Mortgage Rates Hit 6.95 Percent in the Highest Reading Since January 2025, Raising Costs on a $430000 Home

 Joshua Adkins  September 19, 2026

Borrowing costs jumped again this week, pushing monthly payments higher for both conventional and FHA buyers even as long-term savings remain below 2023 peaks.

Homes for sale in Colorado as mortgage rates rise and buyers slow down

Colorado Housing Market Cools as 30-Year Mortgage Rates Reach 7.09 Percent and August Sales Fall 11.3 Percent While Homes Stay Listed Longer

 Joshua Adkins  September 19, 2026

Higher borrowing costs are adding pressure to a market already showing slower sales, longer marketing times and more selective buyers.

A suburban home for sale as rising mortgage rates challenge buyers in Monroe County

Mortgage Rates Near 7 Percent in Monroe County as Realtors Warn First Time Buyers and Fixed Income Households About Rising Monthly Costs and Affordability

 Joshua Adkins  September 19, 2026

Local agents say buyers need to focus on monthly payments, not just list prices, as borrowing costs, taxes and insurance climb.