This week on Take Ten, Corey Freels and Lisa Wiles break down everything shaping the mortgage world right now in a fast, Realtor-friendly 10-minute update.

Here’s what they cover:

• Rates holding around 6.18% and why lenders are feeling the squeeze

• What the government shutdown actually means for mortgage data

• USDA fully stalled. Why files can’t even be uploaded yet and what that backlog will look like

• Real 100% financing alternatives you can promote on your listings

• The viral 50-year mortgage conversation and why the math just doesn’t math

• When interest-only loans actually help clients (and when they don’t)

• How other countries structure mortgages (yes, including that 100-year loan story)

• Business planning for 2026: work life balance, consistent income, and scaling without chaos

If you want straight answers, tactical tips, and real talk without the fluff, you’re in the right place. Email us at AfterHours@theMortgageGallery.com

Or call us at 865-263-6727

Mortgage rates dipped below 6% for one day… and now they’re back over 6%.

So what’s actually happening?

In this episode of Take Ten, Corey and Lisa break down:

• Why rates briefly fell below 6%

• Why paying points is suddenly a strong strategy

• Builder incentives that are creating “slick” deals

• The proposed 401(k) down payment rule change

• Should you tap retirement savings to buy a home? • What CrossMod homes are (and why they’re a powerful affordability solution)

• A little-known FHA rule about wells and public water that can kill a deal

• How listing agents can avoid financing surprises

If you’re a Realtor, buyer, investor, or homeowner trying to understand today’s mortgage market, this episode gives you real strategy, not headlines.

We explain what matters, what doesn’t, and how to structure deals creatively in this 6% rate environment.

📊 Data source: Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Index 🏡 Topics: mortgage rates 2026, paying discount points, 401k for down payment, CrossMod homes, FHA appraisal rules, well water requirements, builder incentives

Real conversations. Real strategy. Ten minutes.

Recently, the Trump administration instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest $200 billion into mortgage-backed securities... and the internet exploded.

Did rates crash? Is this the beginning of 5% mortgages again? Or is the headline bigger than the impact?

In this episode of Take Ten, Corey and Lisa break down:

• What the $200B mortgage bond investment really means

• Why rates didn’t drop as much as social media claimed

• Where economists expect mortgage rates to trend in 2026

• Why rate stabilization matters more than dramatic drops

• The truth behind the “foreclosures up 14%” headlines

• A powerful cash-out refinance strategy saving clients $300–$2,000 per month

• When to use a HELOC vs. a cash-out refinance

If you’re a Realtor, homeowner, investor, or buyer waiting on rates to “crash,” this episode gives you the clarity you actually need.

We cut through headlines and explain what’s really happening in the mortgage market — in under 10 minutes.

📍 Hosted by The Mortgage Gallery 📊 Real data. Clear strategy. No doom scrolling.