Larry Gonzales

Could mortgage rates hit 8%?

Mortgage rates are starting October near three-year highs, with conventional rates around 7.57%, VA rates around 7.21%, and the 10-year Treasury near 5.28%.

But there was actually some encouraging economic news last week.
September added just 29,000 jobs, unemployment increased to 4.2%, and PCE inflation came in cooler than expected. That helped push the odds of an October Fed rate hike from roughly 70% down to 22%. Yet mortgage rates remain elevated.

So, could 8% mortgage rates really happen?

In this week's Monday Rate Update, Larry Gonzales breaks down what would need to happen for mortgage rates to reach 8%, why the 10-year Treasury and global bond market are so important right now, and why higher rates may actually create opportunities for serious homebuyers.
Buyers are also gaining leverage. More listings are seeing price reductions, inventory is increasing, and pending sales are slowing—giving buyers more opportunities to negotiate price, seller credits, and strategies that could reduce their monthly payment.

📌 Video Chapters
00:00 Monday Mortgage Rate Update
00:35 Mortgage Rates Hit 3-Year Highs
01:15 Mortgage Applications Fall & ARMs Rise
02:20 September Jobs Report
03:00 PCE Inflation Comes in Cooler
03:50 October Fed Rate-Hike Odds Drop
04:35 What Could Move Mortgage Rates This Week?
05:05 10-Year Treasury Auction & Fed Minutes
06:05 Oil Prices & Strait of Hormuz
08:40 Global Events Impacting Interest Rates
11:20 Buyers Are Gaining Leverage
12:50 What Homebuyers Should Do Right Now
14:20 VA Loans, Seller Credits & 5/1 ARMs
15:20 Should You Lock or Float Your Rate?
17:00 Could Mortgage Rates Hit 8%?
18:40 What Would Push Rates to 8%?
20:00 Bottom Line for Buyers This Week

🏡 What This Means for Homebuyers

Higher mortgage rates don't automatically mean it's a bad time to buy.
When rates are lower, buyer competition can increase. Today's market may give buyers more negotiating power to pursue price reductions, seller credits, temporary buydowns, or alternative financing strategies like a 5/1 ARM.

Don't make your decision based only on the headline interest rate. Look at the payment, your budget, and the opportunity in front of you.

📲 Have questions about buying a home in Hawaiʻi or using your VA loan benefit? Reach out to Larry and The Broker team.

👍 Like this video if this update helped.
💬 Drop your mortgage or housing-market question below.
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Hawaii VA loans, Hawaii real estate, and military homebuying made simple. If you're a veteran, active duty, or military family buying a home in Hawaii, you're in the right place.

I'm Larry Gonzales, Larry The LO, a mortgage loan officer specializing in VA loans and Hawaii mortgages.

This channel gives veterans, active-duty service members, and military families straightforward information about using their VA home loan benefits and buying real estate in Hawaii.

You'll find videos covering VA loans, BAH, PCS moves to Hawaii, Hawaii mortgage rates, the homebuying process, and strategies to help military families make smarter real estate decisions.

No fluff. No confusing mortgage jargon. Just practical information to help you understand your options and make a confident decision.
Whether you're PCSing to Hawaii, using your VA loan benefit for the first time, or deciding whether buying a home in Hawaii makes sense, you're in the right place.

📌 Video Chapters
00:00 Hawaii VA Loans & Military Homebuyers
00:20 BAH, VA Benefits & Buying in Hawaii
00:40 Subscribe for Hawaii Real Estate & VA Loan Tips

👉 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more videos about Hawaii VA loans, military homeownership, mortgage rates, and Hawaii real estate.

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Mortgage rates are averaging 7.03% but there's an important reason they aren't even higher.

The spread between the 30-year mortgage rate and the 10-year Treasury yield has narrowed compared with the unusually wide spreads we experienced in recent years.

Why does that matter?

If Treasury yields eventually move lower while the mortgage spread remains relatively contained, that could create a path for mortgage rates to move back into the 6% range.

It's not a guarantee but it's one of the key numbers worth watching.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#mortgagerates #treasuryyields #housingmarket #homebuying #shorts

Mortgage rates have crossed 7% again but the Federal Reserve isn't the only thing buyers should be watching.

Freddie Mac's latest weekly survey showed the average 30-year fixed mortgage at 7.03%, up from 6.95% the previous week.

Larry explains why movements in the 10-year Treasury yield matter to mortgage rates and why buyers should pay attention to the bond market, inflation expectations, and the broader economy not just Fed announcements.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#mortgagerates #valoan #treasuryyields #housingmarket #shorts #Freddie Mac

Mortgage rates are climbing even though inflation cooled and oil prices moved lower. So what’s actually driving rates higher?

In this week’s Housing Market Update, Larry Gonzales breaks down why the bond market and 10-year Treasury have become major forces behind mortgage rates. The 10-year Treasury reached its highest level in 24 years while mortgage rates climbed to their highest level since November 2023.

We also look at the latest ADP jobs report, PCE inflation, home-price data, oil prices, and housing affordability and why falling inflation doesn’t necessarily mean prices will fall.

For homebuyers, Larry also tackles an important question: How much home can you comfortably afford? Getting approved for a certain amount doesn’t mean that should be your budget. HOA fees, property taxes, insurance, utilities, debt, savings, and your lifestyle all need to be part of the conversation.

📌 In This Housing Market Update
✅ Why mortgage rates moved higher
✅ 10-year Treasury hits a 24-year high
✅ Why the bond market matters to mortgage rates
✅ ADP jobs rebound
✅ PCE inflation update
✅ Why lower inflation doesn’t mean lower prices
✅ Why home prices are still rising
✅ Oil prices and the Middle East
✅ How much home can you comfortably afford?
✅ How HOA fees, insurance and utilities affect affordability
✅ What NOT to do during the mortgage process
✅ Why communication with your lender matters

🏡 Thinking About Buying a Home?

Getting pre-approved is only the beginning.
At The Broker, we take it a step further with our Pre-Approval Plus process. We don’t just show you the maximum amount you may qualify for, we help you understand a comfortable monthly housing budget so you can buy confidently without becoming house poor.

📲 Ready to start your homebuying journey? Reach out to Larry and the team at The Broker.

👍 Like this video if it helped you understand today’s housing market.
💬 Comment below with your mortgage or real estate questions.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly mortgage rate and Hawaiʻi housing market updates.

#mortgagerates #housingmarket #housingmarketupdate #hawaiirealestate #mortgagenews #homebuyingsuccess #valoan #firsttimehomebuyer #interestrates #realestate

What happens if your home appraisal comes in low? 🏠

Say your offer is $1,000,000, but the appraisal comes back at $990,000.

That $10,000 gap raises a question: what happens to the deal?

Larry walks through options buyers and sellers may consider, including negotiating the price or covering the difference. VA buyers may also be able to request a reconsideration of value, and the VA escape clause provides a way to leave the purchase if the value is below the contract price.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#LowAppraisal #AppraisalGap #VAHomeLoan #HomeBuying #Shorts

Offer accepted? Here’s what happens to your earnest money deposit. 🏠

Larry explains what earnest money is, where it goes, and how escrow fits into the homebuying process.

Your purchase contract tells you when the deposit is due and who should receive it. Follow those instructions, and before sending a wire, confirm the payment details by calling a trusted number you already have for the escrow or title company. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#EarnestMoney #EarnestMoneyDeposit #Escrow #HomeBuying #Shorts

New home sales just reached their strongest annual pace of 2026 but the median price is down almost 6% year over year.

So what's happening?

Larry breaks down the latest New Home Sales Report and explains why the price decline may have a lot to do with the mix of homes being built. Builders are focusing more on smaller, less expensive homes that can appeal to first-time buyers.

For buyers, that could mean more options at lower price points in the new-construction market.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#newhomesales #newconstruction #housingmarket #firsttimehomebuyer #shorts

Your offer was accepted… now what? 🏡

In this YouTube Short, Larry explains what happens after your offer is accepted, from the home inspection and appraisal to loan processing, underwriting, and closing.

Buying a home can feel like “hurry up and wait.” You move quickly to get pre-approved, find a home, and submit an offer—then wait as each step moves forward. Timelines vary, but you should know what’s happening along the way.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage and homebuying education.

#OfferAccepted #HomeBuyingProcess #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #MortgageTips #Shorts