Fed Announces No Rate Changes – Info from Prestige Capital The Federal Reserve held the benchmark interest rate at 3.5% and 3.75% in their meeting last week. While Fed decisions do not have a direct effect on long-term mortgage rates, borrowing costs for home loans often mirror fed fund rate trends. Financial experts don’t expect…
Buy Now or Wait and Save? Tips from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital Interest rates have stabilized, down to the lowest rates we’ve seen since February 2023. Still, many potential buyers are asking, “Is now a good time to buy a home?” Why Buy Now? If you’re in a good financial position to buy a…
Big News! Dream for All Applications Open Feb 24 – Updates and Info from Prestige Capital Big news for California homebuyers—California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan registration will be open from February 24 through March 16, 2026.This program is designed to help first-time and first-generation homebuyers purchase a home by offering significant down payment…
Tips on Saving for the Down Payment from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital First-time buyers often feel that saving for a down payment on a home is a daunting task. It’s not out of reach if you set up a savings plan, and stick to it. Set Your Price Range We can do some quick…
Will Rates Go Down in 2026? – Info from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital We closed 2025 with mortgage rates hovering in the low-6% range, and many consumers want to know if rates will continue to fall in 2026.Rates have been somewhat consistent over the last two months, and most experts agree that rates will…
FHFA Announces New Conforming Loan Limits – Info from Prestige Capital The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released updated conforming loan limit (CLL) values for 2026 recently. The new limits for loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac have risen 3.25%, up to $832,750 for one-unit properties in most counties. The limit in high-cost…
Holiday Home Shopping Tips from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital Less Competition Many buyers hold off until the spring to get out there and start looking at homes. If fewer buyers are in the market now, that could mean less competition for serious buyers! Sellers Are Motivated Sellers that put their house on the market…
50-Year Mortgage Idea Falls Flat – Information from Prestige Capital Bill Pulte, the current Federal Housing Finance Agency director, floated the idea of introducing a 50-year fixed-rate mortgage last week on social media. However, that may not be a viable solution to affordable housing. This might be a case where the “cons” outweigh the “pros.”…
Holiday Shopping Without Credit Cards We’re getting into the holiday season, and all of us are tempted to use credit cards more at this time of year. Given the current economy we’re living in, I wanted to share some shopping tips that you may find useful. Breaking Down the Facts Nationwide, Americans rely heavily on…
Lower Rates Create Welcomed Opportunities – Tips from Prestige Capital Mortgage rates have remained low this month, creating more opportunities for prospective home buyers, and homeowners looking to refinance. Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed-rate loans at 6.3%, and the 15-year fixed at 5.53% on October 9, 2025. Since then, rates have continued to hover about…