Extra Credit-Mortgage Edition
What Homeowners Need to Know About Home Insurance (Before It’s Too Late)
January 23, 2026 I sat down with local insurance broker Jeff Lendl with Goosehead Insurance to unpack the insurance questions most people don’t think to ask and how overlooking them can cost serious time, money, and stress. Home Insurance Isn’t “Set It and Forget It” Many homeowners assume that once they secure homeowners insurance, they’re…
Read MoreWhat Does 2026 Hold For the Sacramento Area Real Estate Market?
January 9, 2026 Sacramento Housing Market Outlook for 2026 As we look ahead to 2026, many buyers and sellers are asking the same question: What is the Sacramento housing market going to do next? In a recent conversation with my local real estate partner, Michael Sandoval, we shared our thoughts on where the market appears…
Read MoreThe 50 Year Mortgage: Is This the Fix for Housing Affordability?
December 5, 2025 In this episode, local realtor Michael Sandoval and I talk about two hot topics in the mortgage world right now: the 50-year mortgage and the “portable” mortgage. Both ideas are getting attention as potential tools to improve housing affordability, but they come with some important pros and cons. We cover: ✔ Pros…
Read MoreJeff & Mike Talk Solar
December 4, 2025 In this video, my friend and local realtor Michael Sandoval and I break down something we’re both getting tons of questions about lately…solar panels. We cover: • The 30% federal solar tax credit that expires on 12/31/25 • How to decide whether buying or leasing solar makes the most financial sense •…
Read MoreThe 50-Year Mortgage: Smart Move or Big Gamble?
November 18, 2025 As home prices continue to climb and affordability gets tighter, the idea of a 50-year mortgage has been floating around out there. Could stretching out the repayment term really make homeownership easier? Here’s a quick look at some of the upsides and downsides so you can decide whether it could make homeownership…
Read MoreToday’s Lesson: Why Mortgage Rates Don’t Always Follow The Fed
September 17, 2025 The Fed Just Cut Rates. Tell Me Again Why Mortgage Rates Didn’t Drop Too? The Federal Reserve lowered the Fed Funds Rate by 0.25% today. You might assume mortgage rates will fall by the same amount (which seems perfectly logical, btw). But here’s the twist- mortgage rates didn’t drop. In fact, they…
Read MoreHow (and Why) the Federal Reserve Sets Interest Rates
August 22, 2025 The Fed’s Dual Mandate The Federal Reserve has two main goals they shoot for to keep the U.S. economy humming along: Keep inflation near 2% Maintain maximum employment (as long as it doesn’t push inflation above that 2% target) The federal funds rate is the Fed’s primary tool for managing both of…
Read MoreThe Fed Hits The Snooze Button On Rates
August 8, 2025 For the fifth straight meeting, the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate (the Federal Funds Rate) unchanged at 4.25%–4.5%. This “rate pause”, which has been in place since January, was expected as the Fed keeps one eye on inflation and the other on the job market. Here’s the part that matters…
Read More“One Big Beautiful Bill” Signed Into Law: What It Means for Homebuyers & Investors
July 11, 2025 H.R. 1: New Housing Provisions That Could Impact Your Wallet Last week, President Trump signed H.R. 1, nicknamed the One Big Beautiful Bill, into law—and it includes major housing-related provisions that could benefit both homebuyers and real estate investors. Here’s a breakdown of what’s inside: 1. Mortgage Insurance Premium Deductions Made Permanent…
Read MoreInflation & Unemployment Numbers: What It Could Mean For Interest Rates
June 18, 2025 I wanted to share a quick update on how the latest economic news could impact mortgage rates and the housing market. Whether you’re actively looking to buy, refinance, or just keeping an eye on the market, these trends are important to understand. May Inflation Report: Cooler Than Expected May brought some encouraging…
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