The Buydown Comeback: How Buyers are Lowering Payments – Notes from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital Housing inventory is up this month, as current interest rates have sidelined many potential home buyers. As a result, we see more sellers willing to lower prices or make concessions, often leaning towards a temporary buydown to attract more…
Cracking the Code on Down Payment – Info from Prestige Capital Prospective home buyers have more negotiating power now, as sellers outnumber buyers by about 50% nationwide. Still, many first-time buyers are grappling with how to save for the down payment to take that big step. Here are a few tips to put an effective…
Fed Meeting Causes Upheaval – Notes from Prestige Capital The Federal Reserve’s July meeting leaves the benchmark interest rate unchanged once again at the target range of 3.50% to 3.75%, with three of the nine committee members calling for a rate hike. This rattled Wall Street as the Dow plunged 1,153 points, and the 30-year…
Rate Alert: Fed Holds, Rates Drop – Info from Prestige Capital The Federal Reserve met last week and unanimously voted to hold the benchmark interest rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%. While inflation is currently elevated at 4.2%, the Fed remains dedicated to delivering price stability. Of the 18 members of the Federal Open Market…
Inflation Busters to Stretch your Budget – Tips from Prestige Capital Inflation is at 4.2% based on the May 2026 Consumer Price Index data. This is the highest rate in three years, and we’re all painfully aware of the increase in gas and food prices. Here are a few inflation-fighting tips to stretch your budget.…
Can AI Get a Mortgage? Answers from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital AI is catching on rapidly and infiltrating our daily lives, but can it get you a mortgage? The answer is simply, “No!” While many banks, wholesale lenders – and even government entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – have incorporated Artificial…
Prime Time for Home Buyers – Notes from Tracy Shaw of Prestige Capital Memorial Day weekend is coming up soon, which kicks off the summer real estate season! Many prospective homebuyers will take advantage of this three-day weekend to explore open houses and view listings. Here are a few tips to enhance the house-hunting adventure.…
FHFA Implements Long-Awaited Credit Score Modernization- Info from Tracy Shaw at Prestige Capital It’s been years in the making – but finally – as of April 22, 2026, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA will allow lenders to use VantageScore® 4.0 to determine credit worthiness in mortgage applications. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency…
Spring Home Buying Tips from Prestige Capital Spring is typically the busiest season for real estate sales. This year, the market has shifted to favor buyers, giving them more negotiating power. Here are a few tips to make the home buying process easier! Get Full Pre-Approval There’s no doubt about it, getting full pre-approval from…
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…