JP Morgan is predicting the Fed won't adjust rates until 2027—but should homebuyers really believe it? Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack the forecast, explain why mortgage rates don’t always follow the Fed, and break down what actually matters when you’re deciding whether to buy a home in an uncertain rate environment.
In this episode you'll learn:

• What JP Morgan is forecasting: Chief economist Michael Feroli expects Fed rates to remain steady through 2026 despite persistent inflation and continued economic growth.
• Why markets disagree: Many investors are still betting on rate cuts as early as June, creating a sharp disconnect between Wall Street expectations and institutional forecasts.
• The Fed myth: Why the Fed funds rate is an overnight bank-to-bank rate—and not the primary driver of long-term mortgage rates.
• What really moves mortgage rates: How factors like mortgage-backed securities, global events, market sentiment, and government policy often matter more than Fed decisions.
• A key policy move to watch: The administration’s directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed bonds—and why it could directly impact mortgage rates.
• Lessons from history: How mortgage rates hit record lows in 2020 before the Fed’s emergency cuts.
• What homebuyers should focus on: Why personal financial readiness—income stability, affordability, and savings—beats trying to time the market.

Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/jp-morgan-economist-believes-fed-done-cutting-rates-what-that-means-for-mortgages/

Nearly one-third of U.S. homes are still being bought entirely in cash, reshaping who wins—and who loses—in today’s housing market. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down new data showing why cash remains king, who these buyers are, and what it means for everyday homebuyers.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How big cash buying really is: Cash deals peaked near 35% when mortgage rates hit the high-7% range and remain historically elevated.
• Who’s paying cash: The typical cash buyer is 58 years old, while repeat cash buyers average 68, reflecting decades of wealth accumulation.
• Where cash dominates: Only 19% of primary homes are cash—but 57% of vacation homes and 56% of investment properties are bought without financing.
• Why sellers prefer cash: Faster closings, fewer risks, and sometimes lower accepted prices for certainty.
• The trade-offs: Avoid interest—but sacrifice liquidity and potentially higher returns elsewhere (stocks gained 16%+ in 2025).
• The bigger shift: A growing divide between cash-rich buyers and mortgage-dependent households—and what that means for future paths to homeownership.

Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/all-cash-home-buying-remain-a-strong-force-in-the-housing-market-says-study/

Corporate investors now own hundreds of thousands of single-family homes, reshaping neighborhoods across the country. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down Trump’s proposal to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, why it’s gaining traction, and the big questions it raises about housing supply and affordability.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How big this got: From zero firms owning 1,000+ homes in 2011 to companies controlling up to 300,000 homes today.
• Where it’s most visible: In cities like Atlanta, institutional landlords own about 25% of rental homes.
• The proposal: Use the Housing for the 21st Century Act to block large investors from buying more single-family homes (without forcing sales of existing ones).
• Legal hurdles: Potential constitutional challenges involving due process and the commerce clause.
• The trade-off: Professional rental management vs. fewer chances for renters to become homeowners.
• The bigger issue: Restricting buyers doesn’t solve the core problem—America isn’t building enough homes where people want to live.
• What to watch: Congressional movement, legal challenges, and whether investors rush to buy before any ban takes effect.

Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/trump-plans-to-ban-large-institutional-investors-from-purchasing-single-family-homes/