The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips, Mortgage Rates & Housing Market Updates

The war in Iran continues to create uncertainty across global markets, but what does that actually mean for the U.S. housing market? In this live housing market update, we’ll discuss how geopolitical tensions could impact oil prices, inflation, mortgage rates, and buyer confidence heading into the second half of the year. We’ll also break down the latest housing data and answer your real estate an...

Everyone thought mortgage rates would be lower by now... but they were wrong. Inflation surprised the market, the Fed changed its outlook, and new uncertainty has completely shifted the mortgage rate forecast. In this episode, we break down what happened with mortgage rates in the first half of the year, where rates could go in the second half, and what buyers should focus on instead of trying to...

Housing market update for this week: inventory finally topped last year, with 841,000 homes versus 831,000. Sellers are getting more realistic on price, and mortgage rates sit at 6.65%. Josh Lewis and Jeb Smith break down what it means for buyers, then answer your questions live. In this episode: national and Orange County inventory, new listings and pending sales, price reductions at 39%, mortgag...

If you're a first-time home buyer, you've probably spent months saving for your down payment... only to find out there's a whole second pile of money you didn't plan for. They're called closing costs, and most buyers have no idea what they're actually paying for, who's responsible for them, or that some of them can be negotiated. In this episode, Jeb Smith and mortgage expert Josh Lewis break down...

A new Fed Chair and fewer expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could have a huge impact on mortgage rates, first-time home buyers, and housing affordability in 2026. If you're wondering whether you should buy a house now or wait for lower mortgage rates, this video breaks down what actually drives mortgage interest rates and why the Fed doesn't directly control them. Learn how inflation, the bond ma...

10 Insider Rules for a Smooth, Stress-Free Home Closing Most first-time home buyer closing problems do not happen at the closing table. They usually start weeks earlier because buyers were not prepared for what happens after their offer is accepted. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down the 10 insider rules that help first-time home buyers avoid closing de...

Why First-Time Home Buyers Shouldn’t Wait for a 2008 Housing Market Crash If you’re a first-time home buyer waiting for the housing market to crash before you buy a home, this video is for you. A lot of buyers are comparing today’s market to 2008, but the data tells a very different story. In 2008, loose lending standards, zero-down loans, risky adjustable-rate mortgages, and a flood of foreclosur...

Is the housing market finally shifting away from sellers? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh break down why sellers are pulling homes off the market at the fastest pace since 2020, what that means for inventory levels, and how it could impact first-time home buyers heading into the second half of the year. You'll learn why many homeowners are choosing not to sell, ho...

Consumer debt is becoming one of the biggest obstacles for first-time homebuyers in 2026. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down how credit cards, student loans, car payments, personal loans, and high debt-to-income ratios are impacting mortgage approvals in today’s housing market. With first-time homebuyers making up just 21% of the market, many buyers are...

Is the spring housing market still strong even with higher mortgage rates? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what first-time home buyers need to know about today’s real estate market, including inventory trends, buyer demand, mortgage rate movement, price reductions, and what it all means if you’re trying to buy a home. If you’re a first-time home buye...

First-time home buyers: mortgage rates just moved fast, and understanding what’s driving them could help you make a smarter home buying decision. In this episode, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what happened to mortgage rates, why inflation, Treasury yields, and global events are impacting affordability, and what first-time buyers should watch before buying a home in today’s housing market. Y...

If you’re a first-time homebuyer in 2026, chances are you’ve been told now is the worst possible time to buy a home. Between headlines about high interest rates, affordability challenges, and a “frozen” housing market, many buyers feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and unsure where to start. But the truth is far more nuanced — and far more hopeful — than what the media wants you to believe. In this ep...

Why Shopping for a Mortgage Lender Can Backfire Shopping for a mortgage lender sounds like the smart move—but if you’re only chasing the lowest interest rate, it could cost you more money, more stress, and even your dream home. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Josh Lewis and Jeb Smith break down the top 5 reasons you should not shop for a lender the wrong way . They explain why rate sho...

War Headlines Just Shifted Mortgage Rates: What Homebuyers Need to Know Mortgage rates are moving again, and this time the driver is not just inflation or jobs data — it is global uncertainty. In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer Podcast , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down how war headlines, oil prices, inflation expectations, employment data, housing inventory, and mortgage spreads are all...

Can you really afford the home you want? In this episode, we break down debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and explain how lenders use your income, monthly debts, loan program, down payment, and mortgage payment to determine how much house you can qualify for. We also walk through the income needed to qualify for homes at different price points, including $300K, $500K, $750K, and $1M, so you can better un...

First-Time Home Buyer Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Buy Smart Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. If you’re a first-time home buyer , understanding the mortgage process, down payment options, closing costs, credit score requirements, and today’s housing market can feel overwhelming. The good news? With the right strategy, becoming a homeowner...

Housing supply could be the biggest factor shaping the 2026 peak buying season. In this episode, we break down why inventory matters so much, how it impacts buyer competition, seller leverage, home prices, and what today’s market signals could mean for anyone planning to buy or sell a home. The spring housing market is usually the busiest time of year, but when housing supply does not show up the...

Zillow just downgraded its housing market forecast —so what does that really mean for home prices, mortgage rates, inventory, and buyers in today’s market? In this episode of The Educated Home Buyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down Zillow’s latest housing market forecast and explain why the headline matters, what “flat” home price growth could mean nationwide, and why local real estate market...

Everyone thought the housing market was about to take off this spring… but the exact opposite is happening. Sales are down, inventory growth is slowing, and first-time home buyers just hit the lowest level ever recorded. So what’s really going on? Is the housing market actually stalled, or are people just misunderstanding what the data is telling us? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb...

Is the 2026 Housing Market Slowing Down? Here’s What You Need to Know The 2026 housing market is showing signs of slowing, and if you're thinking about buying or selling, this is information you need to understand. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down the latest trends shaping today’s real estate market, including inventory levels, rising interest rates, inflation concerns, an...

What if one financial mistake could shape the way you approach homeownership forever? In this powerful episode, Juan opens up about how his family’s foreclosure during the 2008 financial crisis became the foundation for smarter, more intentional decisions years later. Instead of chasing the market or overextending, he and his wife focused on financial stability, disciplined savings, and buying wit...

Mortgage rates just dropped following news of a ceasefire—but will it actually last? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down what’s really happening in the market right now and what it means for you if you’re thinking about buying a home in 2026. From bond market volatility to inflation trends and oil price impacts, we connect the dots so you can understand why mortgage rates mov...

Most buyers think the highest offer always wins—but in today’s real estate and housing market, that is not how sellers actually decide. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or already navigating the process of buying a home, understanding what sellers look for can make or break your offer. In this episode, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what really matters when buying a house, including pr...

Have mortgage interest rates already bottomed for 2026? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down the recent jump in mortgage rates, why global conflict, oil prices, inflation, and Treasury yields are all putting upward pressure on the market, and what that means for buyers planning to purchase a home this year. We also explain whether waiting for lower rates is a smart strategy, w...

✅ Ready to become a homeowner? Start your stress-free journey today: ⁠theeducatedhomebuyer.com/start⁠ 📩 Have questions about your situation? Connect with our team: ⁠theeducatedhomebuyer.com/start Waiting to buy a home could be costing you more than you think. While most buyers focus on mortgage rates, home prices, and monthly payments, very few stop to consider the true financial cost of waiting...