January 23rd, 2026
What’s Up With Rates
They bounced a bit this week. Why? A mix of geopolitical noise and government commentary—aka comments from the President and the Fed reminding markets they still have a pulse. We dipped to some nice lows late last week… and then, plot twist.
Globally, Greenland is suddenly in the group chat and tensions are heating up in Venezuela. What could possibly go wrong? Markets hate surprises, so rates nudged up.
Back home, December home sales were down just over 9%, but before anyone panics—weather was messy and the holidays landed on Thursdays two weeks in a row. Not exactly peak home-shopping vibes.
Reality check: buyers are out in force. I’ve had four clients in multiple-offer situations and others locking up contracts with solid seller credits and price reductions. This is about as balanced as I’ve seen the market since 2014.
To the balanced market: I welcome you with open arms.
Tax Time Reminder = Easy Client Touch
It’s tax time, which means your clients are already slightly stressed and definitely ignoring most marketing texts. That’s the perfect moment to send something actually helpful.
One of the easiest annual client touches my team uses is a quick reminder around 1098 mortgage interest statements. It hits every past homeowner, provides real value, and reminds them you still exist without asking for anything. Miracles do happen.
Here’s why it works:
Homeowners do need their 1098 for taxes
Many forget they went paperless and assume it’s “missing”
You look proactive and helpful instead of promotional
Bonus move:
If they bought or sold in the past year, you can also remind them about their RESPA / closing disclosure for tax filing. Extra credit, same effort.
The Text You Can Steal (And Should)
Use this as-is or tweak it to sound like a human you’d actually trust:
“Hi [Name]! Quick homeowner reminder as we head into tax season. Keep an eye out for your 1098 mortgage interest statement from your lender. If you don’t see it in the mail, don’t freak out. You likely opted for paperless delivery and it’s available in your online lender portal. It’s something your CPA may want when filing. Just wanted to flag it in case it helps. Hope you’re doing well!”
That’s it. No pitch. No CTA. No awkward “by the way do you know anyone buying or selling” energy.
Why This Matters for Agents
It keeps you top of mind without selling
It reinforces that you’re paying attention after the transaction
It gives clients a reason to respond and re-engage
And yes, it’s also a sneaky way to trigger conversations that lead to referrals. Not because you asked, but because you showed up when it mattered.
If you want to stack these kinds of simple, high-impact client touches throughout the year, this is exactly the kind of thing my team helps agents build into their systems. No gimmicks. Just consistent value that compounds.
Now go copy, paste, and look like the most organized professional in your clients’ phone.
From The Feeds….
