28
Sep
By Fred Gruber
Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 28th, 2026

With a light week the previous week, only a few data reports will have any far reaching impact, with the M2 money supply and the Federal Reserve Balance sheet giving the most insight.

The M2 Money supply has really only increased ever since the COVID pandemic, and has more or less kept in line with the rate inflation has been impacting the costs of many sectors.

While the Federal Reserve balance sheets show a trend of increasing lately, it has shown there is still restraint by the Federal Reserve which is evidenced by the recent increase in interest rates. They are showing strong intent that they do want to combat the rising inflation and bring it down under control.

M2 Money Supply
M2 increased to $23.343 trillion in August, up from $23.218 trillion in July, an increase of approximately $124.9 billion, or 0.54% month-over-month. On a year-over-year basis, M2 was up about 5.66%, compared with $22.093 trillion in August 2025.

Federal Reserve Balance Sheet
The Fed’s securities held outright totaled about $6.471 trillion, including $4.558 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities and $1.910 trillion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Compared with the previous week, Treasury holdings increased by roughly $3.9 billion, while MBS holdings declined by approximately $3.1 billion.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey Index

  • 15-Year FRM rates saw an increase of 0.16%, bringing the current rate to 6.42%.
  • 30-Year FRM rates saw an increase of 0.08%, bringing the current rate to 7.03%.

MND Rate Index

  • 30-Year FHA rates saw an increase of 0.34%, with current rate at 7.15%.
  • 30-Year VA rates saw an increase of 0.35%, with current rate at 7.17%.

Jobless Claims
Initial Claims were reported to be 220,000 compared to the expected claims of 210,000. The previous week landed at 207,000.

What’s Ahead
PCE Index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation indicator, is due next week. This will be followed up by Non-farm Payroll and Unemployment Data. Lastly, there will also be some insight on current GDP growth numbers.

25
Sep
By Fred Gruber
Home Buyer Tips

Why a Condo’s Finances Can Matter Almost as Much as Yours When Getting a Mortgage

When applying for a mortgage, buyers expect their income, credit, debts, assets, and employment to receive plenty of attention. Condo buyers can encounter another layer that sometimes comes as a surprise. Depending on the financing being used, the financial and operational condition of the condominium project itself may also matter.

You Are Buying More Than the Unit
A condominium purchase usually includes ownership of an individual unit along with an interest in shared areas and responsibilities.

Those shared responsibilities are typically managed by a condominium or homeowners association. The association may collect dues, maintain common areas, purchase certain insurance coverage, fund reserves, and manage major projects.

Because the condition of the overall project can affect the property securing the mortgage, some loan programs may require information about the condominium development in addition to information about the borrower.

Reserves Help Tell a Story
Condo associations frequently maintain reserve funds for future major expenses.

Roofs, elevators, exterior surfaces, pools, parking areas, plumbing systems, and other shared components eventually require maintenance or replacement. Adequate planning for those expenses can help an association manage major projects without relying entirely on sudden assessments.

When reviewing a condo, buyers should pay attention to the association’s financial information and ask what major projects may be approaching.

Special Assessments Can Matter
If an association does not have enough money available for a major expense, owners may face a special assessment.

For a buyer, an assessment can mean an additional financial obligation beyond the regular monthly HOA dues and mortgage payment.

Existing or anticipated assessments can also raise questions during a transaction, making it important to understand what has already been approved and what may be under consideration.

Insurance and Other Project Issues May Be Reviewed
Depending on the mortgage program, other characteristics of the project may also receive attention.

Insurance coverage, pending litigation, property condition, owner occupancy, commercial space, and other factors can potentially become relevant. Requirements vary, which is why a condo that works with one financing structure may present challenges with another.

Investigate the Condo Before You Commit
A buyer can have excellent credit, stable income, sufficient savings, and a manageable debt load while still encountering a financing issue connected to the condominium project.

That makes condo shopping different from evaluating many traditional single-family homes.

Before assuming that mortgage approval depends entirely on your own financial strength, ask whether the condominium itself meets the requirements of your planned financing. When buying a condo, both your finances and the property’s finances can become part of the mortgage conversation.

24
Sep
By Fred Gruber
Home Buyer Tips

What Happens When the House You Want Has a Solar Loan Attached to It?

Solar panels can be an appealing feature when shopping for a home, especially for buyers interested in energy efficiency. But seeing panels on the roof does not tell you who owns them or whether money is still owed. If the solar system was financed, the outstanding obligation can become an important part of the home purchase conversation.

First Find Out Who Owns the System
Solar arrangements can vary. The homeowner may own the system outright, be paying off a solar loan, or have another type of agreement associated with the equipment. Those distinctions matter because purchasing the house does not necessarily make every financial obligation connected to the solar system disappear.

Buyers should determine how the system was acquired and request documentation early in the transaction.

An Outstanding Loan Raises Questions
If the seller financed the solar panels and a balance remains, buyers need to understand what is supposed to happen to that obligation when the property changes hands.

Depending on the agreement, the seller may need to satisfy the balance, or there may be provisions involving a transfer to the buyer. The specific contract and financing arrangement will determine what options are available.

If a buyer is expected to assume an obligation, that additional payment may also need to be considered as part of the buyer’s financial picture.

Ask About More Than the Monthly Payment
The amount of the solar payment is important, but it should not be the only question.
Buyers should understand the remaining balance, length of the agreement, transfer requirements, warranties, maintenance responsibilities, and what happens if the roof needs replacement or repair.

It is also useful to review actual energy bills rather than assuming that solar panels automatically produce a particular amount of savings.

Do the Research Early
Solar financing can become more difficult to address when it is discovered late in the mortgage process.
If a home has solar panels, buyers should ask about ownership and financing before assuming the system is simply included with the property. Relevant documentation can then be reviewed by the appropriate parties while there is still time to address questions.

Solar panels themselves do not have to make purchasing a home complicated. The key is knowing what comes with them.

Before falling in love with the idea of lower energy bills, find out whether you are looking at a fully owned home feature or a system that still carries a financial obligation.