Friday Pulse · June 26, 2026
Happy Friday — rates moved in the right direction this week and there’s a few things worth knowing before the weekend.
Rate Read
30-year fixed conventional is at 6.53% — lowest since mid-May, after the PCE inflation report (the Fed’s preferred measure of price increases) came in roughly as expected. No surprise spike meant mortgage bonds got temporary relief, which pulled rates down from 6.58% last week.
What this means for you: Any buyer who got pre-approved two or three weeks ago and went quiet — their ceiling just moved. At $600K with 20% down, their monthly payment dropped about $17 and they can now stretch to ~$603,400 at the same budget. Worth a quick call before the weekend. More importantly, the news of rates lowering will likely hit the next “News Cycle” early next week — which means your clients will start to reengage with the market. Remember, the media picks up the changes to interest rates MUCH SLOWER than you think.
One Thing to Know This Weekend
714 active listings in Bend and rates at a 6-week low — the most buyer-favorable combo we’ve had since spring. The catch: sellers still need to price correctly. Homes sitting at 56+ days on market are almost always priced above where buyers are willing to go.
What this means for you: A price-reduced listing hitting this weekend catches a better buyer pool than it would have last month.
What Buyers Are Asking Me
“I got pre-approved a few weeks ago — do I need to start the whole process over now that rates changed?”
No. Your pre-approval is still valid — rates moving doesn’t reset it. What I do want to do is re-run your numbers, because at the same monthly payment your ceiling may have shifted a bit. It’s a 10-minute call, not starting over. If you have a buyer who went quiet after locking in their pre-approval number, now’s a good time to re-engage.
Loan Tip from Uncle Kip
Self-Employed Borrowers — they will need more time to get pre-approved. If you know your buyers haven’t spoken to a lender yet and are wanting to see homes, get your ducks in a row now, before they find out they can’t qualify without selling their current home. 😲
Kip’s Bend Pick
*NEW* Elevation Farmers Market — every Friday evening, 3–7pm on the SE side of Bend. Location: S Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97702 (open May to October).
Open House Scripts
Hosting an open house this weekend? Here’s a great little game you can play with your guests. Change up the vibe with a word scramble.
What you’ll need:
- A little white board (with something to stand it against)
- A dry-erase marker
- Your imagination
- The name of the local elementary school children would go to if they bought that home
For example: “WELJEL TRYENMALEE” would be “JEWELL ELEMENTARY.” If they’re anything like me, they’ll stick around the house longer just to figure it out. And when the answer is revealed, you can give them more knowledge about the area and the school district. 😊
REMINDER: CE Summer Camp for Realtors — First Class Is Next Tuesday
Free CE credit, live on Zoom. Six classes this summer, starting July 1. Register once, join any or all.
Next up: Leveraging Seller Concessions — July 1 at 10:30 AM. How to structure and win more deals in today’s market.
On Call This Weekend
I’m available Saturday + Sunday. Text or call 202-329-9187 for pre-approvals.
On Instagram → @mortgageswithkip
Real talk on buying, owning, and building wealth.
Best of Luck this Weekend!
— Kip