Quick market update as oil futures have dropped since the election and we got a hot CPI report today which put a damper our rate rally.

We also dissect what we would ask loan officers if we were shopping lenders.

Texas is still a buyer’s market, and weekly mortgage applications are sitting under 190,000. In this episode of Beyond the Rate, Charlie and Will break down which buyers can take the most advantage of the opportunity right now.

We cover:

• First-time buyers and why you should focus on the house, not the rate
• Move-up buyers, including how renting out your current home can help
• Market-savvy buyers who negotiate 5% to 10% off and plan a refinance
• Second-home and vacation-home buyers on the Texas coast and in the Hill Country
• What to do if you have to sell your home before you buy
• Why waiting for rates to hit 6% could mean double the competition and fewer seller concessions

Whether you’re ready to buy or just exploring your options, this conversation will help you look at the market through a smarter lens.

Read the full breakdown on our Resource Center: [add link]

Beyond the Rate, a Shop That Rate podcast, is hosted by the team at J. Charles Lending. www.jcharleslending.com

Four of the biggest real estate brokerages in the country just teamed up on Open Real Estate, a shared listing platform built to answer Compass and its private exclusive listings. What does it mean if you're buying or selling a home?

Recorded the day after the announcement, Charlie and Will break down how we got here, from the NAR commission settlement to Compass vs. Zillow, and who actually comes out ahead: boutique brokerages, sellers who need privacy, sellers testing a price, and luxury homes. We also take a hard look at Compass's claim that private listings sell for 4.6% more, and ask the bigger question: if the largest brokerages run their own listing networks, does the MLS still have the same job?