Volatile… and that might be putting it lightly.

Most of what we’re seeing right now is being driven by global economic news, especially tensions involving Iran and other parts of the world. When uncertainty shows up, markets react quickly, and not always in our favor.

The biggest factor? Oil.

With roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply in question, prices have jumped compared to just a few weeks ago. Higher oil prices fuel inflation concerns, and when inflation fears rise, interest rates tend to follow.

The result is mortgage rates sitting about a half percent higher than where they were in February. Not exactly the direction we wanted, especially when the market was starting to heat up.

The good news is today brought a bit of relief. There’s movement toward a potential 15-point peace plan from the U.S., along with pressure from China for Iran to ease tensions. If things cool off, markets typically follow.

We’re not seeing buyers disappear, but there is a little more hesitation compared to the momentum we had earlier.

And here’s the reality we always deal with…
rates tend to move up fast and come down slow.

So right now, it’s about stacking small wins and watching for gradual improvement. The goal is still to work our way back toward conventional rates in the 5’s.

In the meantime, the message to clients stays the same:
Don’t try to time the market… focus on time in the market.

— Brooks

There’s a stat that should make every real estate professional pause for a second.

The National Association of Realtors reported that in 2025, the median age of a first-time homebuyer hit 40.

Forty.

Not 28. Not even mid-30s. Forty.

That’s not just a number. That’s a signal.

Because people aren’t suddenly deciding at 40 that homeownership sounds fun. What’s actually happening is much simpler and, honestly, more frustrating.

They’re waiting.

Waiting because they think they can’t afford it.
Waiting because they don’t fully understand how powerful homeownership really is.
Waiting because no one has clearly shown them a path.

And that’s where this gets interesting.

Most renters don’t realize that homeownership is one of the biggest drivers of long-term wealth in this country. The gap isn’t small either. On average, a homeowner’s net worth is roughly 40 times higher than a renter’s.

That’s not a “nice to have” advantage. That’s life-changing.

But here’s the part that should matter to you.

This delay isn’t just about affordability. It’s about awareness.

A lot of buyers still think they need 20% down.
They don’t know seller concessions are back in play.
They’ve never heard of down payment assistance options that can dramatically reduce cash to close.

In other words, they’re making decisions based on outdated or incomplete information.

Meanwhile, in today’s market, there are real opportunities to structure deals that make monthly payments more manageable than people expect. Between negotiating with sellers, leveraging concessions, and using the right loan strategy, affordability is often a lot closer than it looks from the outside.

So when you see that “age 40” stat, don’t read it as a market problem.

Read it as a communication gap.

Because the agents and lenders who take the time to educate, simplify, and guide… they’re the ones who change that timeline for people. They’re the ones who help someone buy at 30 instead of 40. Or 25 instead of “someday.”

And that’s not just a transaction.

That’s a trajectory shift in someone’s life.

The opportunity right now isn’t just to close deals.
It’s to close the gap between what people believe and what’s actually possible.

And the ones who lean into that are the ones who win.