This is a collection of blog posts we have done regarding the lending industry, interest rates and anything else that falls within the financing realm of a real estate transaction.

There’s been increasing discussion about two major mortgage ideas that could reshape the U.S. real estate landscape: 50-year mortgages and portable mortgages. These proposals are designed to help unlock a market that has largely frozen in place, offering new ways to improve affordability and mobility—especially in high-cost areas like Placer County.

With inventory remaining tight across our region and throughout California, here’s a clear breakdown of what these proposals mean, how they might help, and what limitations still remain.

The 50-Year Mortgage: Pros, Cons & What It Solves (and Doesn’t)

A 50-year mortgage simply stretches a traditional 30-year mortgage into a longer term, reducing the monthly payment.

Potential Benefits

Lower…

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Yesterday, the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by ¼%, just as most people expected. Normally, that kind of move makes borrowing cheaper. But this time, mortgage rates actually went up.

Earlier in the week, mortgage rates had fallen to some of the lowest levels we’ve seen in years. Then, after the Fed’s press conference, they jumped again. This has now happened several times in a row: the Fed announces a rate cut → the market hopes for more → and mortgage rates end up climbing instead.

 

Why Mortgage Rates Rose After a Fed Cut

The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates. Its short-term rate influences things like credit cards and car loans, but mortgage rates move based on what investors expect from the economy.

When…

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As summer winds down, the Placer County housing market is showing several important shifts that could shape the months ahead. With more homes available, stable pricing, and mortgage rates falling to their lowest level in 10 months, both buyers and sellers are finding new opportunities.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening in the local market.

Market Activity — Active, Pending & Sold

  • Active Listings: Up 21.8% year-over-year, giving buyers more selection (though down 5.8% from July)

  • Pending Sales: Up 16.6% month-over-month and 21.1% year-over-year, showing that more buyers are writing offers

  • Closed Sales: Down 15.5% year-over-year and 15.7% from July, reflecting a slower—but still moving—market

This mix shows …

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Rates at a 10-Month Low

If you’ve been watching the real estate market in Placer County, you know how much mortgage rates can impact affordability.

On May 21st, 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.08%. As of September 5th, 2025, that rate has dropped to 6.29% — the lowest we’ve seen in nearly 10 months (Source: Mortgage News Daily).

What Does This Mean for Buyers in Rocklin, Roseville, and Beyond?

This shift may not sound huge on paper, but for homebuyers in Placer County it makes a major difference:

  • 10% Lower Payments: For the same loan amount, today’s monthly payment is roughly 10% lower than it was in May.

  • 10% More Buying Power: Alternatively, buyers can now qualify to borrow about 10% more at the…

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Mortgage rates have been moving in a positive direction for buyers. According to Mortgage News Daily, the 30-year fixed rate is now around 6.58%, the lowest we’ve seen in 10 months.

At the same time, our latest market update shows months of inventory in Placer County has increased compared to earlier this summer. That means there are more homes available and less competition for each one.

What This Means for Buyers

  • Lower Rates = Lower Monthly Payments compared to when rates were higher earlier this year.

  • More Inventory = More Choices in the type, location, and price range of homes available.

  • Market Conditions Have Shifted from the tighter, higher-rate environment we saw just a few months ago.

While no one can…

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Why Consider an Assumable Loan?

 Current interest rates are hovering somewhere around 7%. By assuming an existing loan, you may be able to find a rate closer to 3-3.5%! This can significantly reduce your monthly payments and overall interest paid over the life of the loan. 

So what is the catch? 

  1. Owner-Occupant Requirement: Most assumable loans are government-backed FHA or VA loans that require the buyer to be an owner-occupant. Unfortunately, this means investors are not eligible in most cases.
  2. Significant Down Payment: You’ll need to cover the difference between the home’s purchase price and the existing loan balance. This typically requires a down payment of at least $75,000 to $100,000 or much more if the home has been owned for many…

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What a year!

We saw rates climb consistently throughout the year to as high as 8%, only to fall back to the 6% range by the end of the year. Thank goodness.

We also saw the supply of homes remain very tight in the 1 to 2-month range, even as the rates climbed. As of this afternoon, we have 546 homes for sale in Placer County and 337 in contract. That is only 1.6 months of inventory!

Many homeowners were simply uninterested in leaving their existing low rates throughout the year. The good news is that with rates falling recently, we may see more homeowners willing to make a move after holding off the past year.

The biggest surprise of all for many of the experts was the increase in home prices, due to the lack of supply. The median home price…

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Over the past two years rising interest rates have had a massive impact on the real estate market.

 For numerous years we saw record-low interest rates spur demand, which led to record sales volumes and impressive yearly gains in home values.

 Since rates began to rise, we have seen a sharp decline in demand, but somewhat unpredictably, we have also seen a decrease in the supply of homes that has been greater than the decline in demand.

 The combination of these factors has led to a market where we simultaneously have a low supply of homes, leading to stable and even rising home values, while at the same time, the cost to finance those homes has increased at a record pace, due to the 20- year high-interest rates.

 The questions we are now…

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The new California Dream for All program offers a unique opportunity for California residents to partner with the state in an equity share down payment assistance program.

For qualified buyers, the state will contribute up to 20% of the downpayment needed towards the purchase of a home. Leaving the home buyer to finance the remaining 80%, oftentimes without private mortgage insurance because of the assistance.


The combination of only having to make a payment based on 80% of the home’s value, combined with the possible removal or lowering of the private mortgage insurance, will allow buyers to have payments considerably lower than traditional low or no downpayment loan programs.

When the home is sold in the future, the initial 20% of the downpayment…

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As interest rates have risen over the past year, it has become progressively more difficult for home buyers to qualify to purchase homes in the same price range that they could afford at lower interest rates.

Fortunately for veterans, VA loans offer a great way to help offset this rise in rates by allowing them to assume the loan of another veteran at that loan's existing rate.

What is Loan Assumption?

Loan assumption is a process where a new borrower takes over an existing loan, including all the terms and obligations associated with it. In the case of a VA loan, loan assumption can be a great option for individuals who want to buy a home but may not qualify for their own VA loan at current rates, or for someone who would just like the lower…

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