In the News from Prestige Capital – Fed Rates and New Hope for Veterans

In the News from Prestige Capital – Fed Rates and New Hope for Veterans

The Federal Reserve’s July FOMC meeting resulted in maintaining the benchmark interest rate of 4.25% to 4.5%, despite increasing pressure from the White House. The same rate has been in place since last December, as the Fed continues to monitor the effect of tariffs imposed on other countries by the United States, and its impact on inflation and unemployment.

For the first time in 32 years, two Fed governors dissented in maintaining the current rate, backing a quarter-point reduction instead. Regardless, Jerome Powell did not allude to any rate cuts planned for their next meeting in September.

Many experts agree that prospective home buyers who are on the fence should not wait for interest rates to drop any time soon. If you’re still deliberating a home purchase, this may be a good time to focus on being prepared for down payment and closing costs, improving credit scores, and lowering debt obligations before seeking pre-approval.

Veterans Get Help from Congress
In other news, Veterans gained new hope from Congress to avoid foreclosure. The Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program was ended as of May 1, 2025. This Biden-era initiative was designed to help veteran homeowners avoid losing their homes by purchasing defaulted mortgage loans and modifying them to more manageable terms, often with a 2.5% fixed rate.

The abrupt end of that program left nearly 90,000 veterans at risk of losing their homes due to delinquent payments, with 33,000 already in the foreclosure process according to ICE Mortgage Technology data.

Congress proactively stepped up to pass the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, with strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The Act was signed into law Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

This new law will prevent thousands of veterans from entering foreclosure by providing a partial claim option, where the VA can cover delinquent payments and work with lenders to restructure the loans.

If you, or your friends and family, are interested in a home purchase, investment property, refinance, or looking to leverage existing home equity, please give us a call. We’re ready to help you create your mortgage plan for success!

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