GREENWAY BLOG

7 August 2026

MarketMinute | Manufacturing expanded and home prices rose

  Job openings fell in June, but steady hiring and low layoffs suggest the labor market remains solid and is in "slow hire, slow fire" mode. According to payroll processor ADP, private-company hiring slowed considerably in July, with primary gains in healthcare and education. The July ISM manufacturing report showed higher than expected growth, logging its fastest pace since May 2022.   ICE's mid-month home price index reports annual home price growth accelerated at 1.7% in July, the strongest in 15 months. The number of "shadow homeowners," adults who still...

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31 July 2026

MarketMinute | The Fed left rates unchanged

  The Fed left its policy rate unchanged this week, but markets are still betting on at least one hike before the end of the year. Economic growth was weaker than expected in the second quarter. GDP, a broad measure of goods and services, grew just 1.5%. The Fed's favored gauge of inflation, the PCE index, came in at a 3.7% annual rate for June. Core inflation was up only 0.1% for the month.   New home sales rebounded in June, but higher mortgage rates and affordability challenges continued to keep many buyers on the sidelines. Rising mortgage rates led to a 6.4% drop in mortgage...

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28 July 2026

What are Non-QM Loans?

  What Are Non-QM Loans? When traditional mortgage guidelines don’t fit your financial situation, a Non-QM loan may offer another path to home financing. Non-QM, or Non-Qualified Mortgage , loans are designed for borrowers who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage due to unique income sources, higher debt-to-income ratios, or certain credit events. They offer more flexibility in how income and financial qualifications are evaluated. While these loans can provide more options, they may also come with different qualification requirements, including higher down payments or interest rates.     Common Types of...

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24 July 2026

MarketMinute | Mortgage applications rise despite higher rates

Import prices rose more than expected in June. Price growth in nonfuel segments signals inflation is affecting more than just energy prices. The share of job seekers out of work for six months or longer reached 27.3% in June, hovering near its highest level since late 2021. Next week's Fed meeting is one of the most uncertain in years, with markets split on whether policymakers will hold rates or raise them. The Wall Street Journal reports baby boomers are increasingly upsizing their homes in retirement, reversing traditional expectations. As the housing...

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20 July 2026

Mid-Year Mortgage Update 2026

  The market is opening. Opportunity is too. We’ve reached the mid-point of the year, so it’s time to offer my take on the housing market and where we go from here. The Rate Reality Rate news is mixed. As of June 11, 2026, Freddie Mac reported a 30‑year fixed rate average of 6.52%. It’s higher than the historically low rates we remember from the early 2020s but lower than the same week last year, when they came in at 6.84%. [*1] Where will rates go from here? At their June meeting, the majority of members of the Federal Reserve Board forecast at least one policy rate hike before year’s end. However, geopolitical...

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