Larry Gonzales

As we kick off July and celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary, this week's mortgage market is being driven by two major factors: Jobs Week and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In this week's Mortgage Rate Update, I break down:

What to expect during this shortened 4th of July trading week

📊 JOLTS, ADP, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report
💼 Why unemployment, nonfarm payrolls, and wage growth matter
🌍 How events involving Iran, Israel, and the Strait of Hormuz could impact oil prices and mortgage rates
🏡 Current conventional and VA mortgage rate trends
📈 What could push mortgage rates closer to 6% again

Current rate snapshot:
• Conventional: 6.50%–6.75%
• VA: Near 6.10%

If you're thinking about buying a home, refinancing, or simply want to stay informed, this weekly update will help you understand what's driving mortgage rates.

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💬 Leave your questions in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe for weekly mortgage market updates, VA loan education, and Hawaii real estate insights.


Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & Happy 4th of July Week
01:15 Why the Middle East Matters for Mortgage Rates
03:40 Jobs Week Preview (JOLTS, ADP & BLS)
06:15 Consumer Confidence & Inflation Signals
08:10 Current Conventional & VA Mortgage Rates
10:00 What Could Move Rates Next?
11:15 Final Thoughts & Holiday Wishes


#mortgagerates #valoan #housingmarket #interestrates #mortgageupdate #jobsreport #FourthOfJuly #realestate #homebuying #larrythelo

I've moved about 12 times during my career, and I learned one important lesson...

Don't assume every moving company includes the same services.

Whether you're paying out of pocket or using a military move, you need to know exactly what's covered before moving day.

In this Short, Larry Gonzales shares one simple question that could save you money, stress, and unexpected surprises.

👉 Watch the full Housing Market Update for more homebuying and moving tips.

What's the biggest moving mistake you've ever experienced? Share it in the comments.

#LarrytheLO #TheBroker #TheBrokerHI #veteranloan #veterans #valoans #mortgage #va #ihawaii #veteranspcs

Mortgage rates just reached their lowest levels since mid-May.

Conventional loan rates are still in the mid-6% range, but VA loan rates are moving closer to 6%, giving eligible buyers a little more breathing room.

What's driving the change?

A sharp drop in oil prices is helping ease inflation concerns, and that's creating downward pressure on mortgage rates.

In this Short, Larry Gonzales explains why rates are improving and what homebuyers should be watching next.

👉 Watch the full Housing Market Update for the latest on mortgage rates, inflation, and the housing market.

Are you waiting for rates to drop before buying? Let me know in the comments.

#LarrytheLO #TheBroker #TheBrokerHI #veteranloan #veterans #valoans #mortgage #va #ihawaii #veteranspcs

New home sales just dropped to one of the lowest levels in nearly four years.

Builder incentives aren't getting buyers off the sidelines, inventory is growing, and homes are sitting on the market longer.

So why are new home prices still increasing?

In this Short, Larry Gonzales breaks down what these numbers could mean for buyers, builders, and the housing market over the next few months.

👉 Watch the full Housing Market Update for more insights on mortgage rates, home prices, and what's ahead.

Would lower mortgage rates get more buyers back into the market? Let me know in the comments.

#LarrytheLO #TheBroker #TheBrokerHI #veteranloan #veterans #valoans #mortgage #va #ihawaii #veteranspcs

Inflation came in higher than expected, but mortgage rates didn't react the way many experts thought they would.

So what changed?

One key factor was falling oil prices. As energy costs decline, inflation pressure can ease, helping offset older inflation data and supporting mortgage rates.

In this Short, Larry Gonzales explains why the latest inflation report wasn't the whole story and what homebuyers should really be watching.

👉 Watch the full Housing Market Update for a deeper breakdown of mortgage rates, inflation, and the housing market.

What do you think happens next with mortgage rates? Let me know in the comments.

#LarrytheLO #TheBroker #TheBrokerHI #veteranloan #veterans #valoans #mortgage #va #ihawaii #veteranspcs

A lot of first-time homebuyers have the wrong idea about getting pre-approved.

Two of the biggest misconceptions are:
It costs money to get pre-approved.
And it will hurt your credit score.

The truth?
There is no cost to get pre-approved.
And while your credit score may dip by a point or two after a mortgage credit pull, that change is usually temporary.

A mortgage credit pull is different from other types of credit pulls.
It gives your lender a real-time look at where you are financially from a credit standpoint.

And that matters because your credit score is like your financial report card.

When you know your score, you can build a better strategy around your budget and your ability to buy a home.

Pre-approval is not about pressure.

It is about clarity.

🎙️ Watch the full video for more homebuyer tips and mortgage guidance.

AI is already changing the job market, and the housing market could feel the impact.

One of the biggest fears people have is simple:
If AI takes my job, how do I pay my mortgage?
That is a real and valid concern.

AI may replace certain roles, especially in admin, finance, and creative industries.

And when people feel uncertain about their income, they may pause on buying a home.

That fear can affect the entire housing market.
Buyers freeze.

Sellers wait.

Inventory stalls.

And even though mortgage foreclosures and short sales are still near historic lows, markets do not just move on data.

Markets also move on fear.

The key takeaway?

AI may not destroy the housing market, but it could create uncertainty that slows decisions.

🎙️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the latest insights on rates, housing, AI, and the economy.

Pending home sales have improved, but the housing market is still not where it needs to be.

The expectation is around 5.5 million home sales.

For May, the pending home sales index came in at 76.8, with projected current sales at 4.17 million.

That’s a positive sign, especially after four months of improvement.
But we’re still below the 5 million mark.

And the biggest reason comes back to affordability.

When there are not enough homes available, buyers have fewer options.
When supply stays tight, prices stay elevated.

And when prices stay elevated, affordability remains a challenge.
New home sales, existing home sales, and pending home sales are all connected.

The homes being built today eventually become the existing homes and pending sales of the future.

Right now, we are still in a housing supply deficit.

🎙️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the latest insights on rates, housing, and the economy.

The Fed held rates steady again.

At the latest meeting, the Fed kept the Fed funds rate between 3.5% and 3.75%, with a unanimous decision to stay put.

That means the Fed has held rates steady for all of 2026 so far.
But the bigger takeaway is the dot plot.

The dot plot shows where Fed members expect rates to go in the future.
And right now, 9 out of 18 Fed members are projecting at least one quarter-point hike before the end of 2026.

So while rates are steady for now, the Fed is still signaling caution.
For homebuyers, this matters because mortgage rates often react to what the market expects the Fed to do next.

No major move yet, but definitely something to watch.

🎙️ Watch the full Housing Market Update for the latest insights on rates, housing, and the economy.