📊 Mortgage Rates at 6.22% + 80% Chance of December Fed Cut

📊 YESTERDAY'S CLOSING RATES

According to Mortgage News Daily, here's where rates closed yesterday (Wednesday, November 26, 2025):

🎯 Freddie Mac reported 6.23% for the week ending Nov 26 - down from 6.26% the prior week! Other sources like Zillow are even reporting rates around 5.99% - effectively the LOWEST SINCE LATE 2022! 🎉 These are the kinds of rates that make homeownership dreams possible again!

💡 Pro Tip: Wednesday's slight uptick doesn't change the bigger picture - we're still near 3-year lows and WAY below the 7%+ rates we saw in early 2025!

🎯 LENDER PROMOS - DON'T MISS OUT!

Looking to lock in a loan before the holiday rush? We've got you covered:

💡 Quick forms, fast responses. Because your time is money (literally).

🔥 WHAT'S COOKING IN THE MORTGAGE MARKET

Markets Are Closed But Opportunity Isn't: While markets are closed today for Thanksgiving, rates continue sitting near 3-year lows! According to Mortgage News Daily, we've been experiencing those "idiosyncratic trading conditions" typical of major holiday weeks - which helped push rates down this week. Translation? Less volatility, more opportunity to lock in! 🎢

The Fed's December Decision Is LIKELY: All eyes are on December 10th. The chances of another 25-basis-point rate cut now stand at just under 80% probability according to traders. If that happens, mortgage rates could drop even further before year-end! The Fed has already cut twice this year (September and October), and a third cut could be the holiday gift that keeps on giving. 📈

3-Year Lows Are Here: Let's put this in perspective - rates at the start of 2025 were over 7%, and now we're hovering around 6%! That's effectively the lowest since late 2022. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for your moment, THIS might be it. November and December typically see the lowest home sales, which means less competition and motivated sellers. 💪

🏢 CALLING ALL REAL ESTATE INVESTORS

If you're eyeing that short-term rental property or building your portfolio, listen up: Despite rates being higher than the 2020-2021 lows, investment properties are still cash-flowing in many markets. With home prices up 1.7% year-over-year to a median of $426,800 and 77% of U.S. metros posting gains, waiting could cost you more than the interest rate differential. 🧮

Midwest markets are HEATING UP! Buyer demand is up 5.5% in the Midwest, with homes selling 27 days faster than the national average. Home prices rose 4.2% year-over-year in Q3 2025 to a median of $331,100. If you're scouting for deals, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio are where the action is! 🌽

Ready to run the numbers on an investment property? Get Your Investment Quote →

Pro tip: Many investors are scooping up properties NOW and refinancing LATER when rates drop. With an 80% chance of another Fed cut in December, you could lock in today and refi in Q1 2026! Big brain moves! 🧠

📚 MORTGAGE 101: SHOULD YOU LOCK OR FLOAT?

With rates at 3-year lows and another Fed cut likely in December, the biggest question we're getting is: "Should I lock my rate NOW or wait?" Let's break it down like we're explaining it to your Uncle Bob over Thanksgiving dinner (but with fewer awkward pauses):

Want to geek out more on this? Check out LendingTree's mortgage calculators to crunch your specific numbers!

🏠 FIRST-TIME BUYER CORNER

Myth Buster: "I need 20% down to buy a house" ❌

WRONG! Here's the real deal with CURRENT rates:

• FHA Loans: As low as 3.5% down (currently at 5.91% according to MND) 🏡
• Conventional Loans: Some programs allow 3% down (around 6.32%)
• VA Loans: 0% down for eligible veterans (currently at 5.93%) 🎖️
• USDA Loans: 0% down for eligible rural properties 🌾

Yes, you'll pay PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) if you put down less than 20%, but here's the kicker: With home prices rising in 77% of U.S. metros, waiting to save that 20% could cost you WAY more in appreciation than you'd save on PMI. Do the math! 🧮

Real Talk: A $400K home at 6.32% with 5% down costs about $2,450/month. Same home at 7% (what rates were in early 2025)? That's $2,660/month. You'd save $210/month - or $2,520/year - with today's rates! That's a nice vacation or... you know, furniture for your new place. 🛋️

Ready to explore your options? Get Pre-Qualified →

📈 BY THE NUMBERS

Here's what else is moving markets this week:

• 10-Year Treasury Yield: Sitting around 4.02% - this is the benchmark that mortgage rates tend to follow 📉
• Conforming Loan Limits for 2026: Rising to $832,750 for most of the U.S. (that's up from current levels) - meaning you can borrow MORE without going jumbo! 💵
• Home Price Median:$426,800 nationally, with 77% of U.S. metros posting gains 📈
• Hiring Picked Up: 42,000 new private-sector jobs added in October - which could make the Fed's December decision interesting 🤔
• Connecticut Real Estate Boom: After NYC's mayoral election, wealthy New Yorkers are rushing to Connecticut - homes selling $500,000 OVER asking! The NYC exodus is real. 🏃‍♂️💨
• Trump's 50-Year Mortgage Proposal: President Trump proposed a 50-year fixed mortgage to lower monthly payments by ~$280 on a $400K loan (but you'd pay $425K MORE in interest over time). Interesting idea, jury's still out! 🏛️

🎓 DID YOU KNOW?

The difference between a 6% and 7% mortgage rate on a $400,000 loan? About $240 per month, or $2,880 per year. Over 30 years, that's $86,400! That's a Tesla, a boat, or several really nice vacations. With rates dropping from over 7% in early 2025 to around 6% now, this is REAL money we're talking about! 💰

Also: Furniture prices jumped 6% over the past year due to tariffs. So if you're buying a house, budget extra for that couch! 🛋️

🔮 TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK (BLACK FRIDAY)

Markets reopen Friday with shortened hours! 📺 Expect light trading volume as most traders will be either shopping or in food comas. Rates typically don't move much on Black Friday, but here's what to watch:

• Post-Holiday Positioning: How traders position for December
• Fed Commentary: Any hints about the December 10th meeting
• Economic Data: Personal income/spending data drops Friday morning

Weekend Vibes: While you're hunting for Black Friday deals, remember - the best "deal" might be locking in a mortgage rate near 3-year lows! Unlike that TV, a good mortgage rate pays dividends for years (or until you refinance). 🏠✨

⚡ READY TO MAKE YOUR MOVE?

Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading to your dream house, or building your investment empire, now's the time to get your ducks (or turkeys?) in a row. 🦆🦃

Fast. Simple. No surprises. Just like your favorite Thanksgiving leftovers. 🥧

From all of us at Loan Puck, have a fantastic Thanksgiving! 🦃

May your turkey be moist, your rates be low, and your family conversations avoid politics and real estate (just kidding, we LOVE real estate talk!) 😄

We'll be back on Friday with your Black Friday market edition! 🏒