THE DEED BRIEF
🏡 THIS WEEK’S MOVE
Rates are parked around 6.34%. Not dramatic—useful.
YOUR PLAY:
➡️ Ask for credits and convert every dollar to $/mo savings (not vague “% off”).
➡️ Get a permanent buydown quote—aim for a rate that starts with 5% if credits are rich.
➡️ Add a rate-lock extension / fee waiver so timelines don’t cost you.
WHY YOU CARE
With more listings and steady mid-6s rates, some sellers feel time pressure. They’ll trade price or payment if you make the math obvious.
📊 SNAPSHOT
New-home sales (Aug): 800k SAAR, +20.5% m/m—a pop helped by discounts + buydowns.
👉 So what: Incentives are on the table; ask for terms that reduce your monthly.
Resale inventory (Aug): +20.9% YoY.
👉 So what: More choice + slower churn = more room to negotiate (varies by metro).
Rates: ~6.34% this week; your lender quote may differ, but use this to sanity-check offers.
🔎 MINI DEAL DECODER — “What’s a quarter-point worth?”
From 6.75% → 6.34% on a $300k 30-yr loan ≈ $80/mo less in P&I. Alone, that’s modest—stack with credits and a tight tax + insurance estimate and a “Yellow” can flip Green.
💰 FUNDING FOCUS — The 2-Call Diligence (≈7 minutes)
Why now: Deals die on bad payment math. Get the real monthly before you bid.
Call #1 (3–4 min): County tax
“Hi—what’s the current annual bill for [address]? Does it reset at sale?” → divide by 12.
Call #2 (3 min): Insurance broker
“Quick landlord policy ballpark for [address]?” → monthly premium.
Tool: 👉 Download the 1-page worksheet (fillable + copy/paste scripts).
Win: Real numbers kill bad deals fast. Good ones stay good.
🎯 ONE ACTION FOR TODAY
Save two contacts: your county tax lookup + your broker. Next property you like → run the 2-Call before touring.
🧩 Micro-Glossary (plain English)
Rate that starts with 5% (“5-handle”): e.g., 5.99%. Ask the seller/lender to apply credits/points so your final quoted rate begins with 5—often trims ~$60–$80/mo on typical loans.
Buydown / Points: Up-front cost that lowers your interest rate and monthly payment. Credits can pay for points.
Credits: Seller or lender money you apply at closing—use it to reduce monthly (via points) or reduce cash to close.
⚖️ Compliance
This is education, not financial/legal/tax advice. Markets and rules vary by city/state/property. Validate local regulations, property taxes, insurance, and loan terms before acting.
📚 SOURCES
Freddie Mac PMMS (week of Oct 2, 2025): 30-year fixed averaged 6.34%. Freddie Mac
HUD/Census – New Residential Sales (Aug 2025): 800k SAAR, +20.5% m/m; months’ supply and price details. HUD.gov
Realtor.com – Monthly Housing Market Trends (Aug 2025): Active listings +20.9% YoY; market balance context. realtor.com
Until next time,
Your 10-minute real estate playbook starts here
