Mortgage Research Network Podcast

America’s household debt has reached historic levels—and it’s increasingly standing between millions of Americans and homeownership. With credit card balances topping $1.23 trillion and more families relying on debt just to cover basic expenses, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down what the latest Federal Reserve data reveals about consumer borrowing, debt-to-income ratios, and why buying a home i...

Most Americans say they value community— but only one in four can name their neighbors . New data reveals a paradox at the heart of American housing: people feel neighborly, stay in their homes longer than ever, and turn out to vote at higher rates—yet often oppose new housing that could ease the affordability crisis. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what the numbers really say about neighborlines...

Mortgage payments are finally dropping for new buyers, offering a rare bit of relief. Lower rates combined with plateauing home prices mean monthly payments are 8.4% lower than last January , but regional variations, rising insurance costs, and climbing property taxes create a more complex picture. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down what buyers should watch, why waiting for the “perfect” moment...

A leadership change at the Federal Reserve could reshape the path of mortgage rates—and not necessarily in the way homebuyers expect. As Jerome Powell’s term winds down, Kevin Warsh has emerged as a potential successor, bringing bold ideas about rate cuts and shrinking the Fed’s massive balance sheet . Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why this transition matters, how selling trillions in mortg...

Baby boomers are sitting on an unprecedented amount of housing wealth—but many are aging in homes that may no longer be safe for them. With more than $17 trillion in home equity at stake, the real challenge isn’t affordability—it’s whether these homes can support safe, independent aging. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack new reporting on aging in place, the true cost of home modifications, and why...

Home prices hit new highs in 2025—but sellers aren’t walking away with record profits. Despite a median home price of $360,000, homeowner profit margins have fallen over the past three years. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why returns are shrinking, how regional markets are diverging, and what today’s shifting buyer demographics mean for the future of housing. In this episode you’ll learn: H...

Health insurance costs have reached a startling tipping point for some American families. In a growing number of cases, monthly health insurance premiums now exceed mortgage payments. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry examine how rising ACA premiums are forcing painful trade-offs for self-employed households and accelerating America’s K-shaped economic divide. In this episode you’ll learn: How extreme the...

Extreme weather events are no longer just temporary disruptions—they’re quietly reshaping housing markets across the country. From rising insurance costs to new risks for lenders and buyers, climate-driven events are changing what it really means to afford a home. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explore how storms, flooding, wildfires, and power outages are impacting home values, insurance availability,...

Nearly three out of four Americans believe corporate investors are driving the housing crisis—but the data tells a more complicated story. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what institutional investors actually own, how they dominate certain markets, and whether targeting them will really make homes more affordable. In this episode you’ll learn: How much housing Wall Street really owns: Large insti...

Your monthly mortgage payment is likely your biggest expense—and until now, it’s earned you nothing in return. That’s starting to change as fintech company Bilt expands into mortgage rewards , promising homeowners points for paying their loan. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how Bilt’s mortgage rewards program works, what’s appealing about it, and why experts are urging caution before jumping...

Speculation is no longer confined to the fringes of the market—it’s gone mainstream. From AI-driven stock hype to echoes of historic market bubbles, even the smartest investors can get swept up by fear of missing out. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what today’s speculative environment means for investors and homeowners, and why the centuries-old lessons of Isaac Newton still matter when balancin...

JP Morgan is predicting the Fed won't adjust rates until 2027 —but should homebuyers really believe it? Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack the forecast, explain why mortgage rates don’t always follow the Fed, and break down what actually matters when you’re deciding whether to buy a home in an uncertain rate environment. In this episode you'll learn: What JP Morgan is forecasting: Chief economist Mi...

Nearly one-third of U.S. homes are still being bought entirely in cash , reshaping who wins—and who loses—in today’s housing market. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down new data showing why cash remains king, who these buyers are, and what it means for everyday homebuyers. In this episode you’ll learn: How big cash buying really is: Cash deals peaked near 35% when mortgage rates hit the high-7% r...

Corporate investors now own hundreds of thousands of single-family homes , reshaping neighborhoods across the country. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down Trump’s proposal to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes , why it’s gaining traction, and the big questions it raises about housing supply and affordability. In this episode you’ll learn: How big this got: From...

A single announcement sent mortgage rates tumbling toward 6% —and now the housing world is buzzing. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down Trump’s proposal to deploy $200 billion in mortgage bond purchases, what it could realistically do to rates, and the unintended consequences buyers should watch for. In this episode you’ll learn: The proposal: Use $200B held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy m...

A new report suggests 30% of borrowers with “good” credit scores are actually high-risk —and many denied borrowers may be safer bets than their scores imply. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down why traditional credit scoring is under fire and how new verification tools could make mortgage pre-approvals faster and more accurate. In this episode you’ll learn: The disconnect: Validify found major ga...

Most homeowners have no idea they could be missing out on up to $20,000 in tax deductions every year . Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down the most valuable homeowner tax benefits—plus the big changes coming in 2025 and 2026. (And remember: always confirm details with a licensed tax professional.) In this episode you’ll learn: When to itemize: If your deductions exceed the $32,200 standard deduct...

Gen Z now owns homes at higher rates than millennials or Gen X did at the same age —despite facing the most expensive housing market in U.S. history. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how this generation is pulling off the impossible through discipline, creativity, and a totally new approach to buying. In this episode you’ll learn: The milestone: Gen Z homeownership hits 28% at age 24 , outpaci...

Some U.S. cities are so eager for new residents that they’re offering $10,000–$35,000 in cash, in some cases enough for a 20% down payment . Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down the most generous programs, why they exist, and how they’re reshaping small-town America. In this episode, you’ll learn: The biggest offer: Jackson, Michigan, will give up to $35,000 —nearly a 20% down payment on a brand-n...

A tiny quarter-percent drop in mortgage rates could unlock 5.5 million homebuyers —more people than the entire population of Colorado. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack how a small rate shift can trigger massive demand and reshape the housing market heading into 2026. In this episode you’ll learn: Why it matters: NAR’s research shows a 0.25% drop could unleash 5.5M buyers , especially renters despe...

Spring 2026 is shaping up to be the busiest housing season in years. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack why experts expect a 14% jump in home sales , how the market is shifting back toward sellers, and what buyers should be doing now to get ahead. In this episode you’ll learn: Why sales may spike: NAR data, rising inventory, and pent-up seller activity point to a major spring rebound . Market shift...

Rural America was losing population for years—then the pandemic hit, remote work exploded, and over 500,000 people moved into small towns within two years. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack how this sudden migration sent rural home prices soaring and reshaped entire communities. In this episode you’ll learn: The migration surge: Rural areas flipped from –78,000 residents/year to +500,000 as lockdow...

Investors are grabbing a growing share of America’s starter homes—but first-time buyers still win 69% of the time nationally. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down new research from Neighbors Bank showing where first-time buyers thrive, where investors dominate, and why the picture varies so dramatically city by city. In this episode you’ll learn: National breakdown: First-time buyers claim 69% of...

Homebuyers in 2026 aren’t just shopping for bedrooms and bathrooms—they’re looking for flexibility, efficiency, and built-in technology . Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down the emerging features that experts say will define the homes of the future. In this episode you’ll learn: ADUs go mainstream: Backyard apartments are becoming essential as multigenerational buying hits 17% of purchases. EV re...

The Fed delivered a 0.25% rate cut at its December meeting—but deep division among policymakers and missing economic data made this one of the most unusual decisions in years. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what the Fed’s split vote means, why housing won’t feel much relief, and what buyers should watch heading into 2026. In this episode you’ll learn: A divided Fed: Three members dissented—the m...