Larry Gonzales

Oil prices eased as Middle East crude supplies recovered but geopolitical risk hasn't disappeared.

Saudi Arabia restored flows through its East-West Pipeline, while Middle East crude exports rebounded significantly in September. Those developments helped ease some of the supply pressure that had pushed oil prices sharply higher.

Why does this matter for homebuyers?

Energy prices can affect inflation expectations and the bond market, which are among the factors that can influence mortgage rates.

That's why oil remains one of the numbers I'm watching.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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Home price growth is slowing but that isn't the same thing as home prices falling.

Larry breaks down the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Index and explains why slowing appreciation matters for buyers and homeowners.

Monthly price gains have faded from their earlier pace, but the data Larry is discussing still show some appreciation.

And because Case-Shiller is released with a lag, it doesn't fully capture what's happening in the housing market today.

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Inflation has fallen significantly from its 2022 peak so why haven't prices returned to where they were?

Because lower inflation doesn't mean prices automatically fall. It means the rate at which prices are increasing has slowed.

The U.S. CPI inflation rate reached 9.1% in June 2022, its highest 12-month increase since 1981. Those price increases accumulated over time, and slower inflation doesn't reverse them.

That's one reason affordability can remain challenging even after inflation improves.

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Hawaii housing market 2026 update: Mortgage rates are rising again, but Oahu condos are becoming a buyer's market. Is now a good time to buy a home in Hawaii?

In this week's Housing Market Update, Larry Gonzales breaks down the latest Oahu real estate numbers, rising mortgage rates, and why single-family homes and condos are moving in completely different directions.

According to the September Honolulu housing market report discussed in this video, single-family homes have just 3.2 months of inventory, while condos have approximately 7 months of inventory. That difference is creating opportunities for first-time homebuyers, VA loan buyers, and anyone looking to negotiate seller credits or lower their monthly payment.

Meanwhile, mortgage rates increased for the fourth consecutive week, with Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed rate reaching approximately 7.40% and VA mortgage rates averaging above 7%.

📌 In This Week's Housing Market Update

✅ Latest Oahu housing market statistics
✅ Hawaii single-family homes vs. condos
✅ Why Oahu condos favor buyers
✅ Mortgage rates rise for the fourth straight week
✅ 10-year Treasury and Federal Reserve update
✅ Strait of Hormuz tensions and oil prices
✅ Seller credits and mortgage rate buydowns
✅ What escrow means for homeowners
✅ Temporary vs. permanent mortgage buydowns
✅ Opportunities for VA buyers and first-time homebuyers

⏱️ Video Chapters

00:00 Mortgage Rates Rise Again — Hawaii Housing Market Update
00:35 Four Major Stories Moving the Market
01:20 Treasury Yields Fall, Mortgage Rates Rise
02:30 Government Funding and Economic Outlook
03:00 September Oahu Housing Market Report
04:00 Single-Family Homes vs. Condos
05:00 Why Condos Are a Buyer's Market
06:15 Inventory and Pending Home Sales
07:20 Opportunities for First-Time Homebuyers
08:00 Days on Market and Seller Credits
10:00 What Is Escrow in a Mortgage?
11:20 How Escrow Accounts Work
12:15 Why Your Mortgage Payment Can Change
13:20 What Is a Mortgage Rate Buydown?
14:35 Temporary vs. Permanent Buydowns
15:20 VA Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid
17:20 Conventional and VA Mortgage Rate Update
18:00 What Rising Rates Mean for Oahu Buyers
18:45 Federal Reserve and Inflation Outlook
20:00 Hawaii Housing Market Forecast
21:00 Advice for Buyers and Homeowners
22:30 Realtor Tips for Today's Housing Market
23:40 Final Thoughts

🏡 Thinking About Buying a Home in Hawaii?

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, active-duty military member, or veteran using your VA loan benefit, understanding your options can make a major difference.

Higher mortgage rates don't necessarily mean you should stop looking. In today's condo market, buyers may have opportunities to negotiate seller credits, closing costs, and mortgage rate buydowns.

At The Broker, we help you understand your financing options, compare mortgage payments, and build a strategy that fits your financial goals.

📲 Ready to explore your homebuying options?

Visit: https://larrythelo.com

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💬 COMMENT with your questions about Hawaii real estate or mortgage rates.
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Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve's 2% goal but it isn't surging.

Larry breaks down the August Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, including:
📊 Headline PCE: 3.4%
📊 Core PCE: 3.0%

Core PCE excludes food and energy, helping show the underlying inflation trend.

For homebuyers, inflation matters because it can influence the bond market, expectations for Federal Reserve policy, and mortgage rates.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#PCE #inflation #mortgagerates #housingmarket #shorts

Mortgage rates are watching the jobs report closely after private payrolls jumped by 90,000 jobs in September. What could a stronger job market mean for mortgage rates?

After three straight months of declines, private payrolls rebounded, with gains coming from small and midsize businesses. Pay growth remained steady at 4.4%, while job changers saw 7.3% pay growth.

A stronger labor market can put pressure on mortgage rates because jobs, wages, inflation, Treasury yields, and Federal Reserve expectations are all connected.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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Mortgage pre approval: Here are 4 mortgage mistakes and what not to do before closing. These are the biggest things not to do after pre approval when buying a home.

Changing jobs, financing a vehicle, taking on new debt, or applying for new credit can affect your mortgage approval and home loan approval before closing.

❌ Don’t change jobs without talking to your lender
❌ Don’t make a large purchase
❌ Don’t take on new debt
❌ Don’t apply for new credit

Even after you're pre approved for a mortgage, your employment, credit, debt-to-income ratio, and available funds can still affect your mortgage qualification.

Before making a major financial move, talk to your loan officer first.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update on YouTube.

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#mortgagepreapproval #mortgagemistakes #homebuying #firsttimehomebuyer #valoan #shorts

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.

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💬 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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