Hi there, I’m Craig Jackson! 👋 Welcome to this week’s real estate roundup. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or just keeping an eye on the market, I’m here to break down the latest trends and news in a way that’s easy to understand and relevant to your life. This week, we’re focusing on two big topics:

• Mortgage rates holding steady – Despite economic signals that normally would push rates down, like a tame inflation report and a weak jobs report, rates are staying put. Why? Worries about the US national debt reaching $40 trillion and rising oil prices have investors on edge about future borrowing costs and inflation. (Source: Freddie Mac PMMS)
• Understanding inflation – There’s a lot of confusion about what “falling inflation” really means. Let’s clear it up: when experts say inflation is falling, they mean the rate at which prices are rising is slowing down—not that prices are actually dropping. True price drops (deflation) are rare and usually tied to recessions. The Fed’s goal is to keep price increases under 2% per year, not to make things cheaper overall.

Stay tuned for more insights and practical tips in this week’s feature articles. If you have questions or want to dive deeper into any topic, just let me know—I’m here to help!