Rick Mount

What We’re Watching This Week – June 9th

This is one of the most important weeks of the year so far when it comes to mortgage rates and real estate sentiment. Here’s what we’re paying close attention to:

1. CPI Inflation Report – Wednesday, June 11
This report could move the market significantly. A higher-than-expected reading will likely push rates up. A cooler report could give us some much-needed relief. Either way, it sets the tone heading into summer.

2. Fed Rate Decision and Dot Plot – Also Wednesday, June 11
No rate cut is expected this week, but all eyes are on the Fed’s updated projections. Will they still forecast two cuts this year, or pull back? The tone of Powell’s comments will be just as important as the numbers.

3. Market Reaction to Friday’s Jobs Report
Strong headline jobs growth with softer wage inflation creates a mixed message. Bond markets are trying to make sense of it, and we’ll see how that carries into early this week.

4. Mortgage Rate Volatility
We’ve been range-bound for a few weeks, but that could change quickly depending on Wednesday’s data. Now is the time to have clear rate strategy conversations with buyers.

5. Inventory is Finally Rising
Active listings just hit over 1 million nationwide—first time since 2019. That’s a big shift. It means more opportunity, but also more hesitancy as buyers stay rate-sensitive. Helping clients cut through noise and focus on long-term value matters more than ever.

Bottom Line:
This is a pivotal week. Rates could shift meaningfully based on how CPI and the Fed play out. Pay close attention and as always reach out if we can help you or anyone you know navigate.

Wealth Tip
Equity isn’t just paper wealth—it’s a powerful financial tool.

Smart homeowners don’t just pay their mortgage…
They put their home to work.

Here’s how:
• Reinvest equity into income-generating real estate
• Pay off high-interest debt
• Fund home improvements that increase future value
• Support a major life event (college, business, retirement)

The best part?
You can do it without touching your first mortgage.

This is strategic equity management—and it’s how real estate builds long-term wealth.

Want to explore what’s possible with your current equity?
DM us “EQUITY” and we’ll run the numbers.

—
The Katalyst Team
Mike, Rick & Kevin | Ethos Lending

This Week in Mortgage & Real Estate – May 20

Here’s what we’re watching this week—and what could move rates and reshape buyer behavior:

Mortgage Snapshot:
30-year fixed is hovering around 6.75%

Key Reports to Watch:
• Wednesday: FOMC Minutes drop
• Thursday: Jobless Claims + Existing Home Sales
• Friday: Consumer Sentiment Index

Why it matters:
If jobless claims rise or confidence dips, we could see some downward pressure on rates heading into summer. That means opportunity—for buyers, sellers, and those sitting on the sidelines.

Want to run numbers or help a client prep before summer heats up?
DM me “Plan” and we’ll build your scenario together.

—
The Katalyst Team
Mike, Rick & Kevin | Ethos Lending

Miss this man. Every year I realize more and more what an amazing father I had. Every year I come to a new appreciation for the wisdom he possessed. Each year as my arrogance and ignorance diminish and my humility grows I realize how special this man was. I believe in our twenties we are trying to figure things out living with independence and the thought that we may know more than we do. In my thirties I definitely thought I knew more than I did full of confidence and arrogance. In my forties I began to realize how much I didn’t know I don’t know and a new respect for my father began to grow. Now in my fifties coming to the full realization of the humbling facts that there are many many things I did not know or understand. Today more than ever I cherish the memory of my Dad and the ever growing appreciation of who we was as a person. Miss you pops.