Investors are grabbing a growing share of America’s starter homes—but first-time buyers still win 69% of the time nationally. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down new research from Neighbors Bank showing where first-time buyers thrive, where investors dominate, and why the picture varies so dramatically city by city.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• National breakdown: First-time buyers claim 69% of starter homes; investors take 31%.
• Hotspots for investors: Cities like Miami (57%) see investors buying more than half of all entry-level homes.
• Who owns our neighborhoods: About 1 in 11 U.S. homes is investor-owned, but in places like St. Louis and Harrisonburg, that jumps past 20%.
• Why local laws matter: Cities with tighter rules on short-term rentals or investor limits see more successful first-time buyers.
• The core tension: Large investors provide needed rentals—but also squeeze out aspiring homeowners.
• The path forward: More affordable housing, smart ownership policies, and balancing investor participation without letting them dominate.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/first-time-home-buyers-vs-investors-david-still-beating-goliath-in-some-markets-says-report/

Homebuyers in 2026 aren’t just shopping for bedrooms and bathrooms—they’re looking for flexibility, efficiency, and built-in technology. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down the emerging features that experts say will define the homes of the future.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• ADUs go mainstream: Backyard apartments are becoming essential as multigenerational buying hits 17% of purchases.
• EV readiness matters: With EVs surpassing 10% of U.S. car sales, a pre-installed charger can be a deciding factor for buyers.
• Smarter smart homes: Buyers now expect whole-home automation, not just a thermostat and doorbell—and they want flexibility across platforms.
• The office is back: With 78% of workers hybrid or remote, demand is rising for soundproofing, lighting, and strong home internet infrastructure.
• Energy efficiency = value: 72% of agents say buyers prioritize utility savings, and Energy Star homes sell for 2–8% more.
• Outdoor living evolves: Even small patios can cut days-on-market by ~10 as outdoor kitchens and flex spaces remain in high demand.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/home-features-buyers-will-demand-in-2026-adus-to-ev-chargers/

The Fed delivered a 0.25% rate cut at its December meeting—but deep division among policymakers and missing economic data made this one of the most unusual decisions in years. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what the Fed’s split vote means, why housing won’t feel much relief, and what buyers should watch heading into 2026.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• A divided Fed: Three members dissented—the most disagreement since 2019. One wanted a bigger cut; two wanted none.
• Data blind spots: The Fed acted without full employment data due to the government shutdown, making the decision unusually risky.
• Labor market weakness: The U.S. added only 58,500 jobs per month recently—far below the 153,000 needed to keep pace with population growth.
• Powell’s housing message: A quarter-point cut won’t fix the market—inventory, not rates, is the real problem.
• Rate outlook: Mortgage rates remain in the low-to-mid 6% range, with major agencies expecting around 6.2% in 2026.
• The inflation/employment puzzle: Lower rates may boost jobs—but could reignite inflation, especially with tariff-driven price spikes expected into early 2026.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/current-rates/mortgage-rates-today-dec-10-2025/

Soaring home prices aren’t just an American problem—they’re happening everywhere. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explore how housing affordability has collapsed across developed nations, why Japan is the strange exception, and what global patterns reveal about our future.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The global scale: In the UK, if egg prices rose like housing, a dozen would cost $120—a symbol of widespread market dysfunction.
• Japan’s opposite crisis: A shrinking population has created over 9 million vacant homes, some selling for under $10,000.
• Falling fertility: With U.S. fertility at 1.6, and similar declines worldwide, demographics are reshaping housing demand.
• Policy experiments: The UK’s Right to Buy boosted ownership briefly but worsened social housing shortages, leaving 1.2M on waitlists.
• Common blockers: Across nations, researchers identify four recurring hurdles—anti-immigrant sentiment, means testing, high construction costs, and NIMBYism.
• The path forward: More density, diversified housing types, and a rethinking of urban development will be essential to stabilizing global housing markets.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/not-just-the-us-most-economies-face-housing-crises/

A refinancing surge—the biggest in more than three years—is reshaping the mortgage market. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why refis are spiking even as headlines paint a gloomy housing picture, and how this boom may ironically push mortgage rates up for everyone else.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why refis are exploding: Softer rates have opened the door for homeowners who bought at peak rates to finally trade down.
• Who’s refinancing: About half of all mortgages with rates roughly 0.75% above current levels could benefit from a refi.
• Market health: Delinquencies are improving across all stages, with only a slight foreclosure uptick tied to FHA and resumed VA foreclosures.
• Why refis can raise rates: Investors in mortgage-backed securities demand higher yields when prepayments rise—but this risk is already baked into how mortgage pricing works.
• Economic ripple: Lower monthly payments free up household cash, boosting spending in other sectors.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/refinance-boom-could-cause-higher-rates/

The FHFA has officially released 2026 conventional loan limits, and buyers now have more borrowing power—before the new year even begins. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down what the new limits mean, who benefits most, and how buyers can use them strategically.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The new standard limit: $832,750 for a single-unit home, a 3.26% increase from 2025.
• High-cost markets: Limits rise to $1,249,125, with Hawaii topping nearly $1.3M.
• Multi-unit options: Up to $1.6M in standard areas and ~$2.4M in high-cost zones for 4-unit properties.
• Use them now: Most lenders have already adopted the new limits—buyers can close above 2025 limits today.
• How limits are set: Based on FHFA’s House Price Index; importantly, limits never decrease, even if home prices dip.
• Smart financing strategies: Combine the new limit with a HELOC to avoid a jumbo loan—ideal for $1M+ purchases.
• Market context: After huge jumps in 2022 (18%) and 2023 (12.2%), recent increases signal a stabilizing market.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/will-conventional-loan-limits-increase/

Mortgage satisfaction scores just hit a five-year high—and it’s not because rates are lower. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how lenders boosted customer happiness by ditching the assembly-line approach and actually explaining the process.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The big shift: Top lenders now act more like financial advisors, blending clear communication with smart tech.
• Who’s winning: Citi jumped from 4th place to #1 with a score of 802, ahead of Bank of America, Citizens, Huntington, and Movement Mortgage.
• Why it matters: Borrowers value guidance more than the absolute lowest rate—especially in a complex market.
• Servicer vs. originator: Originators build relationships; servicers inherit them—explaining the ongoing satisfaction gap.
• What buyers should do: Look at rates + service, not just the cheapest option. A lender who explains everything is often worth far more in the end.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/mortgage-borrowers-showing-more-love-for-lenders-jd-power-survey/

After years of record prices, doubled mortgage rates, and the lowest sales in decades, the 2026 housing outlook points to something unusual: stability. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why experts expect slow price growth—not a crash—and how regional differences will shape buyer and seller decisions next year.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Price forecasts: Most experts predict 2–4% national appreciation; some see as low as 0.5%.
• Why no crash: Mortgage delinquencies at 3.42% and a massive $17.8 trillion in homeowner equity keep the market stable.
• The supply puzzle: A 4.7 million home shortage nationwide—yet oversupply in parts of Florida and Texas after aggressive pandemic-era building.
• Rates staying elevated: Expect 6%+ through 2026; anything below 6% is considered a “bonus,” not the baseline.
• Sales outlook: NAR projects 10–20% more home sales; Fannie Mae expects ~9.2% growth.
• The shift in power: Inventory up 22 straight months, reaching 4.6 months of supply, giving buyers more negotiating room—especially for homes that need work.

Read the full article:
https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/housing-market-forecast-2026/