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The Fed raised rates again, but mortgage rates are NOT the only thing you should be watching.

Credit cards, HELOCs and other variable-rate debt can get more expensive when the Fed raises rates.

Yes, savers may earn a little more too. But earning 4% on savings while paying 20%+ on credit cards is not exactly a victory.

And if you're protecting a 3% mortgage while piling up expensive consumer debt, stop looking at ONE interest rate.

Look at your entire financial picture.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

Jobless claims just fell to 196,000, much better than expected.

Continuing claims also dropped to 1.73 million, their lowest level in more than two years.

Sounds like an incredibly strong job market, right?

Not necessarily.

Jobless claims measure people filing for unemployment benefits. They DON'T tell us how easy it is to find another job.

That's the strange part of today's labor market:

LOW layoffs don't necessarily mean HIGH hiring.

And after yesterday's Fed rate hike, these numbers matter even more.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate #JoblessClaims #Jobs #Economy #FederalReserve #LaborMarket

The Fed raised rates 0.25% today, but THAT isn’t the whole story.

The vote was unanimous, 16 of 18 Fed policymakers project at least one more hike this year, and the 10-year Treasury finished above 5% at roughly 5.02%.

That last number matters enormously for mortgage rates.

The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates. The bond market matters much more.

And right now, bonds aren’t giving the housing market much relief.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate #MortgageRates #FederalReserve #HousingMarket

🚨 THE FED JUST RAISED RATES!

But that does NOT automatically mean mortgage rates are going higher.

The Fed raised its benchmark rate 0.25% to 3.75%-4.00%.

Here’s what most people miss:

🏦 The Fed does NOT set mortgage rates.

📈 The bond market matters much more.

And because investors were already expecting this hike, it may already have been priced in.

So yes…

The Fed can RAISE rates while mortgage rates actually IMPROVE.

Now I’m watching bonds and what Kevin Warsh says about what comes NEXT.

Follow me. I’ll break it down as it happens.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#MortgageRates #FederalReserve #HousingMarket #InterestRates #RealEstate

🚨 7% mortgage rates aren't coming.

THEY'RE ALREADY HERE.

Mortgage News Daily has the top-tier 30-year fixed at 7.22% today. 😳

And this is hitting a housing market where sales were already weak and inventory was already building.

But here's what people keep missing:

🏦 The Fed does NOT directly control mortgage rates.

📈 Watch the BOND MARKET.

The 10-year Treasury crossed 5% this week, and tomorrow we get the Fed decision plus Kevin Warsh's comments.

Things could get VERY interesting. 👀

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#MortgageRates #HousingMarket #RealEstate #FederalReserve #HomeBuying

The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates Wednesday.

But what if that’s exactly the WRONG move? 👀

Some economists are warning that much of the latest inflation surge is being driven by ENERGY, something the Federal Reserve cannot fix by raising interest rates.

Higher rates won’t produce more oil. 🛢️

But they CAN make credit cards, auto loans, business borrowing and housing more expensive.

And here’s the part homebuyers need to understand:

🏠 A Fed rate hike does NOT automatically mean higher mortgage rates.

I’ll be watching the 10-year Treasury and Kevin Warsh’s comments after the announcement.

The bond market’s reaction could matter far more for mortgage rates than the quarter-point hike itself.

Do you think the Fed should HIKE or HOLD?

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#FederalReserve #MortgageRates #InterestRates

The Fed may RAISE interest rates Wednesday.

So mortgage rates go higher too, right?

Not necessarily. 🤯

The Federal Reserve controls a short-term interest rate. Mortgage rates are driven much more by the bond market, including Treasury yields and mortgage-backed securities.

If the Fed raises rates and convinces investors it is serious about fighting inflation, longer-term Treasury yields could actually FALL.

And mortgage rates could potentially fall with them.

That's why watching only the Fed Funds Rate can give homebuyers completely the wrong idea about where mortgage rates are headed.

Wednesday could get VERY interesting.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

You found THE ONE. 🏚️❤️

Sure, it might be haunted.

The basement makes noises.

There’s a mysterious cold spot in the hallway.

And your home inspector just quietly packed up his tools and left. 👻😂

But none of that matters because you walked through the front door and immediately said:

“I WANT IT.”

I get it. House hunting can get emotional FAST.

But falling in love with the house doesn’t mean you should fall in love with the first mortgage somebody puts in front of you.

🏠 Compare your loan options

💰 Understand the real monthly payment

📊 Look at the rate AND the costs

🧾 Know what you’re signing

🔮 And make sure the financing won’t come back to haunt you later

Buy the weird house if you love it.

Just don’t make a scary mortgage decision to go with it. 👻🏦

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#MortgageTips #HouseHunting #HomeBuyer #MortgageBroker #RealEstate

Under contract on a home? 🏡 Don’t make a financial move that could jeopardize your mortgage.

Changing jobs, making unexplained large deposits or opening new credit can create problems before closing.

When in doubt, ask your loan officer BEFORE you do it.

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#MortgageTips #HomeBuying #MortgageBroker

🚨 CPI JUST PUT THE FED IN A CORNER!

🔥 Inflation jumped 0.4%

🔥 Core CPI was hotter than expected

💼 Jobs crushed expectations

🏭 PPI came in hot

📈 10-year Treasury is flirting with 5%

And now the market sees a Fed rate hike next week as increasingly likely.

But remember this:

🏠 The Fed doesn't directly set mortgage rates. THE BOND MARKET matters.

If Treasury yields keep climbing, mortgage rates could remain under serious pressure regardless of what people WANT the Fed to do.

Inflation isn't dead yet. 👀

Russell McDonald | NMLS 290837 | Broker CA DRE 01150730
Wymac Capital Inc | NMLS 18766 | Broker CA DRE 01121628
Real Estate Broker – CA Dept of Real Estate

#CPI #Inflation #MortgageRates #FederalReserve #HousingMarket