John Meussner's Blog

Conventional loan limits for 2023 were announced today by FHFA, and while the numbers weren't too surprising, one number that stands out is that the high cost area threshold for conventional loans has exceeded $1 million.   This is important because in many high priced markets, down payment is a ...

Why am I posting today about mortgage applications when data on them is and has been released weekly for as long as I can remember?  Because this week signifies the first time application data has been released in a week where we saw a significant drop in interest rates.  Mortgage rates haven't s...

Let's Talk:  Buy Downs When the real estate market stumbles, slows, or goes through any type of shift, it's a pretty well known fact that a couple of things are about to happen:- lenders are going to get creative- inexperienced (or ignorant, or slimy) professionals in the real estate and mortgage...

Prices are falling!  Days on market continue to climb!  Rates have caused buyers to disappear!  The headlines are everywhere today.  More than 60% of homes are no longer receiving multiple offers.  Price drops are the new norm!Doom with a side of gloom are being served up in markets all over Amer...

Rate Lock Fees When getting a home mortgage, at some point along the way in the loan process, you have to "lock in" your interest rate.  Locking in guarantees the rate you're locked at.  If the market gets worse and average rates go higher, if you're locked in, you're protected.  Typically, if th...

Real estate is local.  Kind of.  It's also regional, and also national.  But keeping in mind that the US is a very big place, before discussing home values, it's important to note that in the US, there can be large differences from region to region and from one metro area to another (not to menti...

What the Fed Rate Hike Means for You The Fed hiked their Fed funds rate by .75 today, bringing their borrowing rate up to a 2.25-2.5% range.  This comes on the heels of years of the borrowing range being 0-.25%, so the increase is substantial, even with the borrowing rate remaining relatively low...

MasonMac July Social Scoop - Free and Easy Video Editing What:  Social Scoop, a monthly webinar to help you step up your social media and marketing gameWho: The MasonMac marketing teamWhen: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:30am Pacific (1:30pm Eastern)How to Join: Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97001562436?pwd...

Going the Extra MileLast Saturday, I was driving into the foothills of Auburn, CA to get in a killer trail run - just before getting to the trail head, my phone rang and it was a past client that I happened to love working with.  A DC-area detective, my client had let me know he planned on sellin...

Where Did the Buyers Go? My team is fortunate enough to work with some phenomenal real estate agents.  I'd argue we've been privileged to work with some of the very best in the country, and certainly some of the best in given markets.  And while most real estate is extremely local, one common phe...