April 9th, 2026

What’s Up With Rates?

After what felt like a daily emotional rollercoaster… we finally got a little relief this week.

Rates improved.

No, nothing magical happened. The world just got slightly less chaotic for a minute.

Here’s the simple version:

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a short-term ceasefire
The Strait of Hormuz (where ~20% of the world’s oil flows) is reopening
Oil prices dropped pretty quickly
And when oil drops → inflation fears ease → rates improve

That’s the chain reaction. Nothing fancy.

Markets are basically saying:
“Okay… maybe we’re not heading into full-blown global chaos this week.”

And when markets calm down, mortgage rates tend to follow.

Now, before we all start celebrating like rates are back in the 5’s…

Let’s stay grounded.

This is progress, not a full recovery
We’re still higher than where we were earlier this year
And a lot of the “peace talk” details are… let’s call it optimistic at best

There’s still a pretty big gap between what both sides actually want, so this could shift again quickly.

What we’re watching next:

Ongoing negotiations overseas (because apparently that’s driving everything right now)
Bond market reaction to today’s 10-year Treasury auction
Whether investors believe this calm actually sticks

If demand for bonds stays strong, that’s a good sign for rates continuing to improve.

What this means for your clients:

Buyers who paused? This is their window to re-engage
Sellers? Still a strong market with motivated buyers out there
And overall… activity hasn’t stopped, it’s just been a little cautious

Bottom line:

Rates got worse fast…
They’re getting better slowly.

We’ll take the small wins and stack them.

And as always… trying to “time” this perfectly is still a losing game. It’s about getting in the market, not perfectly predicting it.

— Brooks

An Educational Event for Your Buyers (That Actually Helps Them Move Forward)

If you’re like most agents right now, you’ve got a list of people who are:

• Thinking about buying
• Doing their research
• Waiting for “the right time”
• Or… have just gone quiet

And staying in front of them without sounding pushy or repetitive?
That’s the challenge.

This Is an Easy Way to Stay Top of Mind

We’re hosting a free online seminar designed for renters and future homebuyers.

It gives you a simple, valuable reason to reach back out, reconnect, and stay relevant — without forcing the conversation.

Not a check-in text.
Not a “just following up.”

Something that actually helps them.

Because Here’s What’s Really Happening

Your buyers don’t have a lack of information right now.

They have a lack of clarity.

They’re scrolling, researching, asking around… and still unsure what the right move actually is.

And when buyers feel unsure, they wait.

Why This Matters for You

When you’re the one consistently bringing value:

• You stay top of mind while they’re deciding
• You build trust without chasing
• You re-engage the “on the fence” buyers
• And you’re the first call when they’re ready to move

Because when that moment comes, they’re not thinking about all the content they consumed…

They’re thinking about who helped them make sense of it.

Who You Should Send This To

• Renters who “want to buy someday”
• Buyers stuck in research mode
• Anyone who’s been on the fence or gone quiet

This is one of the easiest ways to reconnect without it feeling forced.

Event Details