Larry Gonzales

U.S. federal debt has reached $40 trillion but why should homebuyers care?

Higher government borrowing and concerns about the country's debt can put upward pressure on Treasury yields.

And because mortgage rates are closely connected to the bond market, movements in Treasury yields can ultimately affect borrowing costs for homebuyers.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the complete breakdown.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage rate, housing market, and homebuying updates.

#nationaldebt #mortgagerates #treasuryyields #housingmarket #shorts

Buying or selling a home involves a lot more than agreeing on a price.

Maggie Marcelli of Title Guaranty explains why having the right professionals around you matters when you're navigating financing, contracts, negotiations, and the overall real estate transaction.

A good loan officer and real estate team shouldn't just help you complete the transaction, they should educate you so you understand the decisions you're making.

🎙️ Watch the full episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style for the complete conversation.
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more Hawaiʻi real estate, mortgage, and homebuying education.

#homebuying #mortgagetips #hawaiirealestate #financialiteracy #shorts

Mortgage rates dropped for the second straight week.

National averages discussed in this week's update:

🏠 Conventional 30-Year: ~6.65%
🇺🇸 VA 30-Year: ~6.06%

VA rates started the week around 6.30% before improving, while the 10-year Treasury moved back below 4.70%.

The short-term movement is encouraging but can it continue?

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the complete mortgage rate and housing market breakdown.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage rate updates, VA loan education, and housing market news.

#mortgagerates #valoan #interestrates #housingmarket #shorts

Your home inspection came back with repairs. Should you walk away?

Not necessarily.

In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Maggie Marcelli of Title Guaranty discusses why some buyers become concerned during the inspection period and decide to cancel.

Homes require maintenance, and in Hawaiʻi, the environment can contribute to wear over time.

The inspection gives buyers an opportunity to understand what they're buying and make an informed decision about what comes next.

▶️ Watch the full episode for more Hawaiʻi homebuying and real estate insights.
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more mortgage, real estate, and homebuying education.

#homeinspection #hawaiirealestate #homebuying #realestate #shorts

Pending home sales fell to a 2026 low in July.

The index dropped to 71.2, marking the second consecutive monthly decline, while contract signings were 2.2% below the prior year.

Higher mortgage rates are putting pressure on buyers, but housing conditions vary significantly by region.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the complete mortgage rate and housing market breakdown.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage rate updates, housing market news, and homebuying education.

#PendingHomeSales #housingmarket #mortgagerates #homebuying #shorts

How many real estate escrows actually get canceled?

Maggie Marcelli of Title Guaranty shares that, depending on the month, they may see approximately 8–10 cancellations for every 50–60 open escrows.

That's roughly 13%–20% based on those numbers.

Why are deals falling apart?

In the full episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, we discuss condo association issues, HOA costs, insurance, special assessments, inspections, and other challenges affecting Hawaiʻi transactions.

▶️ Watch the full episode for the complete conversation.
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more Hawaiʻi real estate, mortgage, and homebuying education.

#hawaiirealestate #escrow #homebuying #realestate #shorts

35% of home builders are cutting prices as buyer traffic remains weak.

August home builder sentiment increased slightly from 34 to 35, but readings below 50 still indicate negative builder sentiment.

Buyer traffic remained at just 23, while builders continued using price reductions to help move inventory.

▶️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the complete housing and mortgage market breakdown.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage rate updates, housing market news, and homebuying education.

#housingmarket #homebuilders #newconstruction #homebuying #shorts

Why are some Hawaiʻi condo transactions getting canceled?

In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, we discuss how rising association dues, insurance expenses, and special assessments can dramatically change the affordability of a condo.

A buyer may enter into contract only to discover through the condo documents that the costs are higher than expected and those expenses can affect mortgage qualification.

▶️ Watch the full episode for more insights into buying and selling real estate in Hawaiʻi.
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for Hawaiʻi real estate, mortgage, and homebuying education.

#hawaiirealestate #HawaiiCondos #hoa #homebuying #shorts

Welcome to this week’s Monday Rate Update—coming from Valtellina, Italy! 🇮🇹

Mortgage rates start the week elevated, but three major storylines could change their direction: Treasury bond buybacks, the Fed’s Jackson Hole Symposium, and continued tensions in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Current National Mortgage Rates:
🇺🇸 VA: ~6.35%
🏠 Conventional 30-Year Fixed: ~6.77%

📌 Video Chapters

00:00 Monday Rate Update From Italy
01:00 The 3 Big Stories This Week
02:20 Current VA & Conventional Rates
03:45 Treasury Bond Buybacks & Mortgage Rates
06:30 This Week’s Economic Calendar
08:00 PCE Inflation & GDP
10:30 Jackson Hole & Fed Chair Warsh
13:00 Jobs Report Revisions
15:30 September Fed Rate Hike Odds
18:00 Iran, Strait of Hormuz & Oil Prices
21:30 What This Means for Homebuyers
23:30 Could Mortgage Rates Finally Fall?
25:00 Lock or Float?
26:00 Final Thoughts & Subscribe

👍 Subscribe for weekly Monday Rate Updates, mortgage news, VA loan education, and housing market insights.

#mortgagerates #MondayRateUpdate #federalreserve #JacksonHole #valoan #interestrates #housingmarket #mortgagenews #LarryTheLO