A ceasefire in Iran jolts the markets—but what does it really mean for mortgage rates, buyers, and refinances?

In this episode of Today in Mortgages, Michael and Rich break down how global conflict and sudden market certainty impact interest rates, why mortgage applications stalled, and what borrowers and loan officers should actually be doing right now.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why uncertainty is the enemy of low mortgage rates
• How the Iran ceasefire impacted stocks, bonds, and rates
• Why mortgage rates don’t move as fast as the stock market
• What buyers under contract should be doing right now
• Why locking matters more than hoping
• How loan officers can protect clients in volatile markets

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Legal Disclosure:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297.
The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and/or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates. Any commentary on this show should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify, and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation.
Visit our website at https://nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.
#TodayInMortgages #MortgageRates #InterestRates #LoanOfficers #RealEstateMarket

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Will conflict in the Middle East push inflation higher and keep mortgage rates elevated in the U.S.?

In this episode of Today in Mortgages, Michael and Rich break down how geopolitical uncertainty — specifically tensions involving Iran — is impacting oil prices, inflation expectations, the 10-year Treasury, and what that means for mortgage rates and housing affordability.

In this episode, we cover:

How oil price volatility feeds inflation fears

Why global conflict creates uncertainty for interest rates

What central banks are watching right now

The impact of rising Treasury yields on mortgage pricing

What mortgage professionals can control in uncertain markets

If you’re a loan officer, real estate agent, or housing professional, this episode will help you separate the noise from what actually matters.

Legal Disclosure:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and/or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates. Any commentary on this show should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify, and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit Licenses - Network Funding for all state licensing and other legal information.

#mortgagerates #realestatenews #loanofficers #housingmarket #todayinmortgages

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Nearly 1 in 7 home sales fell apart last month — here's why.
In this episode, Michael and Rich break down fresh data from Redfin showing a record-high 14% of home purchase agreements falling through in February. They dig into what's driving buyer jitters, how volatile rates are shaking up contracts, why concessions are exploding, and what loan pros absolutely must do right now to keep clients confident.

🔥 What we cover:

Why February saw a spike in canceled home sale contracts

How rate volatility is freaking out buyers

Whether the trend started earlier or is brand new

What “lagging indicators” mean for March & April closings

Job market fears + AI headlines = more nervous first‑time buyers

What loan pros should do to stabilize client confidence

Why staying in constant contact is mission‑critical

Opportunities hiding inside today's chaos

LEGAL DISCLOSURE:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 2297. This content is commentary on mortgage and real estate news and should not be taken as individual mortgage advice or pricing. All applicants must qualify. Consult a professional regarding your personal loan scenario.
Licensing: Licenses - Network Funding

#TodayInMortgages #MortgageNews #HousingMarket #LoanOfficers #RealEstateInsights

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Is Build-to-Rent still hot… or cooling off?
In this episode of Today in Mortgages, Michael and Rich break down the future of build-to-rent communities — who they serve, why they surged, and whether new political pressure could slow them down. From affordability challenges to institutional investor debates, we’re unpacking what this trend means for homebuyers, renters, and mortgage pros.

🔍 What we cover:

• What “build-to-rent” really means
• Why these communities exploded in places like Houston, Phoenix, Dallas & the Sunbelt
• How affordability gaps are shaping demand
• The political fight over institutional homeownership
• Whether forcing sell-offs could hurt housing supply
• What this all means for buyers, renters & the mortgage market
• Network Funding’s take on putting more people in homes

Legal Disclosure:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. The content of this program is commentary on mortgage and real estate news and should not be taken as individual mortgage or homebuying advice or pricing estimates. Any commentary on this show should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants must qualify. Consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenario.
Licensing information: https://nflp.com/licenses

#todayinmortgages #buildtorent #mortgagenews #realestateindustry

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Pending home sales tick up — but will March’s economic and global volatility kill the momentum?
In today’s episode of Today in Mortgages, Michael and Rich break down February’s surprisingly positive pending home sales numbers, why March could reverse the trend, and what loan officers should be paying close attention to as buying season kicks off.

We cover:

February’s 1.8% national increase in pending home sales and where the bright spots are

How global conflict and hot inflation data (PPI) are driving rates back up

Why refinance applications surged — and then dropped off a cliff

What’s happening with purchase demand heading into spring

How rate volatility is shaping the “new normal”

Why pent‑up buyer demand still gives long‑term hope

Legal Disclosure:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 2297. The content of this program is commentary on mortgage and real estate news. Any discussion of rates or products is not individual mortgage advice or a loan offer. All applicants must qualify. Consult a professional for personalized guidance.
State licensing: https://nflp.com/licenses

#MortgageNews #RealEstateMarket #HomeBuyingSeason #InterestRates #LoanOfficers

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Today on Today in Mortgages, we break down the White House’s newly announced executive orders aimed at boosting homebuilding and reducing construction costs. Rich Jefferson joins Michael to unpack what’s real, what’s political, and what could actually move the needle for affordability in 2026 and beyond.

In this episode:

• What the new executive orders really direct agencies to do
• Impact on builders: permits, inspections, soft costs & environmental reviews
• Why timelines (60‑day clocks) could matter more than policies
• Whether affordability issues—insurance, taxes, rates—get any relief
• The lending-focused order: speeding up TRID, disclosures, and loan processing
• How faster closings help everybody
• Why Network Funding’s 10‑Day Close gives LOs a competitive edge
• Election‑year pressures & the likelihood of real policy action

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

LEGAL
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #2297. This show is commentary on mortgage and real estate news. Nothing here is mortgage advice or a loan offer. All applicants must qualify; consult a professional for your personal situation. Visit Licenses - Network Funding for full licensing info.

#MortgageNews #RealEstate #Homebuilding #LoanOfficers #TodayInMortgages

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Buyers are outpacing listings — again. In this episode, we break down why demand is suddenly surging, how lower interest rates are pushing more buyers back into the market, and why inventory continues to be the biggest hurdle in 2026. Rich digs into new HousingWire data, the impact of global conflict on rates, and what loan officers should be telling buyers right now.

In this episode:

Why buyers are absorbing inventory faster than new listings hit the market

How interest rate dips (even brief ones!) bring demand flooding back

Why lower rates don’t fix affordability — and can make prices rise

What’s happening with new‑build inventory

How global conflict and oil inflation are affecting mortgage rates

What loan officers MUST do right now to guide clients through uncertainty

Legal Disclosure:
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. This program is commentary on mortgage and real estate news; any rates and/or products discussed are not individual mortgage advice or pricing estimates. Nothing here is a promise to make a loan. All applicants must qualify. Consult a professional for your financial situation.
More info: Licenses - Network Funding

#MortgageNews #RealEstateMarket #LoanOfficers #HousingMarket2026 #TodayInMortgages

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.

Will conflict in the Middle East spill over into U.S. housing and interest rates?
In today’s episode, Michael and Rich break down how the Iran conflict, oil price spikes, inflation pressure, and central bank uncertainty are creating fresh volatility in the mortgage market.

They cover:

Why oil at $120 → volatility → inflation → rate pressure

How geopolitical instability unsettles investors and Treasury markets

Why mortgage rates jumped after hitting 5.98% just days ago

What Fed rate cuts might look like now

How job report weakness adds another twist

What mortgage pros can still control in all this noise

Why staying prepared and educating clients is more important than ever

Plus—why Network Funding is built for entrepreneurial loan officers who want to grow their brand

LEGAL
Today in Mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 2297. This program is commentary on mortgage and real estate news and should not be taken as individual mortgage advice or a loan commitment. All applicants must qualify. See Licenses - Network Funding for licensing and legal info.

#mortgagenews #interestrates #realestateupdate #loanofficers #todayinmortgages

See more at TodayInMortgages.com

Want to get expert coaching everyday and have the power of the best Network in Mortgages behind your production business? Learn more here.

Learn more about Network Funding on our parent site.

Today in mortgages is produced by Network Funding, LP, which is an equal housing lender, NMLS# 2297. Corporate office located at 10370 Richmond Ave. Suite 900, Houston, TX 77042.

The content of this program is meant to be a commentary on mortgage and real estate news and any discussion of rates and or products should not be taken as individual mortgage or home buying advice or pricing estimates, and any commentary on this show is should not be considered a promise to make a loan. All applicants for a loan must qualify and you should consult a professional regarding your individual loan scenarios for your financial situation. Visit our website at nflp.com/licenses for all state licensing and other legal information.