Nathan Rufty - Home Loans

Nathan Rufty here with Canopy Mortgage. We are seeing a lot of inventory on the market right now, homes sitting longer, and some price reductions happening across the board. But here is something important I want every buyer to understand before they make their next move.

A price cut does not automatically mean the seller is desperate. What it does mean is that buyers have more room to negotiate than they did a year or two ago. And here is the mistake I see buyers making consistently. They hear that sellers are reducing prices and assume every single listing can be lowballed. That is simply not how this works.

A home that was overpriced by $50,000 and just had a price cut may still not be a great deal at the new number. And a home that is priced correctly in a strong neighborhood with upgrades and move-in ready condition may still attract multiple offers regardless of what is happening in the broader market. Great location and great condition still win in any market.

Before you throw out a lowball offer, look at three things. How long has the home been on the market? How does the price compare to recent comparable sales? And how many times has the seller already reduced the price? If the home has been sitting with no offers and the seller has already cut the price multiple times, that is where your leverage as a buyer genuinely lives.

But remember the best offer is not always the lowest number. Sometimes the cleanest terms win the accepted offer. Connect with your realtor and your lender as a team. We will help you build a strong and acceptable offer that makes sense for your goals and your budget without insulting the seller and killing the deal before it starts.

Call or text me directly at 909-503-5600. Nathan Rufty, Canopy Mortgage. Follow for more smart home buying strategies.

Inflation just hit a three-year high and your clients are going to see that headline and feel nervous. Here is the good news you get to share with them right now.

Yes, the top number came in at 4.2 percent. That sounds alarming on its own. But the real story underneath that headline is significantly calmer than it appears. More than 60 percent of that increase came from one place: energy and gas prices. Strip those out and look at core inflation, the number the Federal Reserve watches most closely, and it rose just 2.9 percent for the year, which actually came in softer than experts were expecting. That is a very different picture from the headline number.

That is exactly why the Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady at next week's meeting. The underlying data does not support an emergency response and the Fed knows the difference between headline noise and structural inflation.

When a client brings you that scary headline, you now get to be the calm and trusted voice who walks them through what is actually happening behind the number. That is exactly the kind of guidance that turns a nervous buyer into a confident one who is ready to make a smart decision rather than freeze in place.

The headline was loud. The underlying data was not. Follow me for more on what the headlines actually mean for housing and mortgage rates.

Nathan Rufty here with Canopy Mortgage and this week I want to talk about what is actually happening in the market right now and why it creates a real opportunity for buyers who have been sitting on the fence.

Inventory is at its highest level in about five years. Some of what is driving that increase is difficult to see. Rising property taxes, higher homeowners insurance, gas prices, food costs, and health insurance have pushed monthly expenses up for a lot of homeowners. We are starting to see more 30, 60, and 90-day mortgage delinquencies and an increase in pre-foreclosure and notice of default filings. That is genuinely sad and it does not help the overall economy. But with that reality comes opportunity for buyers who have been priced out.

If rates or home prices have been the barrier keeping you on the sidelines, this is your window to jump back in. In a buyer's market sellers are far more willing to cover your closing costs, which means in many cases all you need to bring is a down payment. That can come from a qualified family member, a 401k, stocks, bonds, IRAs, or selling something of value.

I am licensed in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Call or text me at 909-503-5600 or reach out through the contact information below. It does not hurt to have a conversation. I want to show you what you qualify for today and what we can work toward together. This is your purchase and I want it to feel completely right for you and your family.

Teachers do more than teach — they lift communities.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to say thank you to every educator who’s shaping the next generation. 👏

If you’re a teacher dreaming about homeownership, you might qualify for special programs and savings made just for you.

Let’s make that dream a reality — send me a message to learn more!

The biggest story in real estate right now is not rates, inventory, or prices. It is the ceasefire, and here is why it changes everything for buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines.

When the conflict in the Middle East kicked off in late February, oil prices spiked, Treasury yields jumped, and the spring market essentially froze in place. But the two-week US and Iran ceasefire announced earlier this month has already pulled the 10-year Treasury yield back down and stabilized energy markets. That matters for one significant reason: mortgage rates follow the 10-year Treasury. When that yield comes down, your rate comes down with it.

Freddie Mac's chief economist Sam Khater is already calling this a positive development for homebuyers that could spark a stronger spring market than we saw last year. The buyers who went quiet in March are watching this closely, and a more stable backdrop tends to bring fence-sitters right back into showings fast. Add to that the fact that Bright MLS is reporting a historic rise in inventory, which means more choices and more room to negotiate the moment confidence returns.

If you paused your home search this spring, now is the time to take another look. The window is opening back up and buyers who move with the right strategy right now are going to be very well positioned.