Tim Rhey Team

Bank of America’s CEO says more rate hikes could be coming…

And judging by the smile, I have a feeling Brian is gonna survive this one. 😂

The rest of us will just be over here checking mortgage rates, gas prices, groceries, and pretending we’re not doing mental math every 12 minutes.

All jokes aside, rate moves matter — especially if you’re buying, refinancing, or carrying a lot of debt. Don’t panic. Just have a plan.

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Don’t let your lender choose your mortgage rate for you.

There isn’t one “right” rate.

There’s the rate that makes sense for your plan.

Are you keeping the home 2 years?
10 years?
30 years?

Do you want the lowest payment?
Lower closing costs?
Or do you actually want to pay the mortgage off faster?

Those answers matter.

Before you lock anything, ask your lender to spend 30 minutes showing you the rate, points, credits, payment and break-even options.

Buying the house is the big decision.

Choosing the mortgage correctly is what comes next.

Have a plan before you pick the rate.

Save this before your next purchase or refinance.

— Tim Rhey
Owner, True Rate Mortgage

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This is what high rates are doing that nobody talks about.

My buyer just made an offer on a $499K home and asked the seller for $23,850 in concessions.

Why would a seller give up almost $24K?

Because buyers are nervous.
And sellers know it.

We can use that money for a 3/2/1 buydown.

If the note rate is 7%:
Year 1 = 4%
Year 2 = 5%
Year 3 = 6%

That’s almost $800/month in first-year payment savings on this deal.

Everybody sees high rates and thinks “bad time to buy.”

Sometimes high rates create the exact leverage buyers need.

That’s the part people miss.

The 10-year Treasury is back over 5%. Mortgage bonds took a hit. And yes, that can show up in a buyer’s rate quote.

Iran says it’s in no rush to negotiate, and markets react. Again.

Here’s my question: If we’ve supposedly removed the threat, why do their public comments still have this kind of power over our markets?

I’m a mortgage guy, not a military analyst. But the story we’re hearing and the market we’re watching aren’t lining up.

What am I missing?

The dealership said yes. Your mortgage lender might say something different.

Buying a house in the next 6–12 months? That new vehicle payment can reduce how much home you qualify for—even if your credit is great.

Being able to afford the truck and qualifying for both loans are two different things.

Before you finance it, talk to your mortgage lender. The house may need to come first. And both payments still need to fit your real-life budget.

Send this to whoever has Zillow and AutoTrader open at the same time. 👀

You’re trying to buy a house. Apparently, you also need to follow Iranian shipping announcements. 🤦‍♂️

An official reportedly says the Strait of Hormuz could reopen. Another outlet denies it.

Oil drops. Bond yields follow. The market reacts before anyone agrees on what actually happened.

No confirmed deal. Just the possibility of more oil flowing—and less inflation pressure. That can help mortgage pricing.

One guy says something halfway around the world, and suddenly it matters to your house hunt in Colorado.

Seems reasonable. 🙃

Send this to someone who thinks mortgage rates only move when the Fed meets.

Do you actually “skip” 2 mortgage payments on a refinance?

Yes… from a cash-flow standpoint, you can.

But you’re not getting free interest.

Mortgage interest is paid in arrears, so depending on when your refinance closes, you may go 30, 45, sometimes close to 60 days without writing a mortgage check.

That can be a really nice reset for a family budget.

You’re not skipping the interest. You’re skipping the cash outflow.

And that’s why the closing date matters.

Save this if you’re thinking about refinancing — most people don’t understand how this actually works.

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This is the kind of thing nobody thinks about until it’s too late.

$275 million in reported real estate fraud losses last year. Up 58%.

And the scams are getting better.

If you’re wiring money for a home purchase, don’t trust an email just because it looks legitimate. Call the title company directly and verify the instructions before you send anything.

That 2-minute phone call could protect your entire down payment.

Saw this from First American Title Colorado and thought it was worth sharing.

Save this. Send it to somebody buying a house.

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