Welcome to the Town Team Mortgage Blog!
- zachschwartz88
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
🎉 Happy Friday from Town Team Mortgage! 🏡💼
We’re excited to introduce our brand new blog! 📣 Whether you're buying, refinancing, or just love staying in-the-know, we’ve got you covered with the latest mortgage and real estate news, expert tips, market updates, and more.
🏦 Mortgage Market: Rates Stay High, Buyers Stay Cautious
Mortgage rates remain elevated, with the 30-year fixed averaging between 6.5% and 7% . Goldman Sachs projects rates could hit 6.75% by year-end, driven by persistent inflation and high Treasury yields . This continues to squeeze affordability, especially for first-time buyers.
Despite political pressure—including calls from President Trump for a full percentage point rate cut—the Federal Reserve remains hesitant to lower rates amid inflation concerns .
🏘️ Housing Market: Prices Climb, Inventory Shifts
Home prices are still rising, but at a slower pace. Goldman Sachs forecasts a 3.2% increase in 2025 , while J.P. Morgan predicts a 3% gain . Inventory is improving, but affordability remains a challenge.
Notably, Gen Z is entering the market, accounting for about 25% of first-time homebuyer mortgage originations in Q1 2025, particularly in lower-cost markets .
🏢 Real Estate Trends: Office Conversions and Market Shifts
For the first time in 25 years, more office space is being demolished or converted than newly constructed, driven by remote work trends . This shift is leading to increased office-to-residential conversions, especially in cities like New York.
Brookfield Properties is laying off executives as it pivots from traditional commercial real estate to asset management, focusing on rental housing and industrial properties .
💰 Personal Finance: Savings Up, Spending Down
Americans are increasingly prioritizing savings over spending, a trend dubbed "revenge saving" following years of "revenge spending" post-pandemic. The U.S. personal savings rate rose to 4.9% in April, up from 4.1% in January .
However, concerns about inflation and personal finances are rising. A BMO survey found that 78% of Canadians reported growing concerns about the cost of living in April, a 17-point increase from March .
📈 Investment Landscape: Private Markets Opening Up
Congress is expected to ease restrictions on investing in private markets by the end of 2026, potentially opening access to over $5 trillion for alternative asset managers . This could allow individuals to invest up to 10% of their income in alternative investments, including private equity and credit instruments.
