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How do you know what a rental property is really worth—especially when there’s no set price? Using a real-world example, this post walks through how DSCR underwriting helps investors run the numbers, evaluate cash flow, and set a smart maximum purchase price before making an offer.
Deal or No Deal? How to Underwrite Your Next DSCR Loan
THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY
President Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh To Succeed Jerome Powell
(Note: The Federal Open Market Committee does not directly change interest rates such as those on 30 year mortgages. But, the actions through its monetary policy have a very strong influence on the markets that determine long-term mortgage rates.)
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is nominating Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, succeeding Jerome Powell when his term expires in May.…
MORE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY NEWS
40,000+ Home Sales Cancelled In December - In real estate, it’s not over till you get to the closing table, and sometimes, not even then. Many realty professionals, from agents through lenders and onto attorneys and title agents, have found that to be the case more often than not, as Redfin reports. More than 40,000 pending sales failed to close in December, the firm reported, the most for the month since records began being kept in 2017.
Lawsuit Accuses Rocket Mortgage Of Steering Borrowers To Higher-Cost Loans - A coalition of homebuyers has filed a class-action lawsuit against Rocket Companies Inc. and affiliated entities 一 including Rocket Mortgage LLC, Amrock Holdings LLC, and Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC 一 alleging illegal practices that steered borrowers into disadvantageous mortgages and inflated home-buying costs. The complaint was filed January 26, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by plaintiffs represented by consumer-protection firm Hagens Berman.
THE HOUSING MARKET
Housing Affordability Improves Nearly 10% In 2025 As Rates And Incomes Align
Housing affordability nationwide strengthened notably through 2025, with consumer house-buying power increasing about 9.8% year-over-year in November, according to the First American Real House Price Index (RHPI). The rise marks one of the most sustained improvements in recent years, and reflects the combined effects of higher incomes and falling mortgage rates. After nearly a decade of affordability challenges following the pandemic housing boom, the trend finally turned decidedly positive in 2025.
MORE HOUSING MARKET NEWS
Rising HOA Costs Add To Homeownership Burden - Homeowner associations (HOAs) manage their communities’ properties, making sure the rules are followed and the amenities in good working order. But enforcing a no-flag law and cleaning the pool every day comes with a price … a rising price, according the latest report from Realtor.com. The median HOA fee was $135 per month last year, a $10 increase from 2024. In 2019, the charge was $108 monthly. Increased dues are “straining” owners in many parts of the country, the report noted.
More Gen Zers Are Buying Homes. But It’s A Trickle, Not A Flood - Gen Z’s homeownership rate ticked up in 2025: More than one-quarter (27.1%) of Gen Zers nationwide owned their home, up from 26.1% a year earlier. Millennials also eked out a gain in their homeownership rate, to 55.4% from 54.9% a year earlier; it’s natural that millennials gain is smaller than that of Gen Z because they’re older and have had more time to buy homes.
THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD
Pool Permitting Falls Lower in 2025
After a rapid expansion of residential swimming pool and spa construction following the pandemic, permit levels in the latest monthly index for December fell to their lowest level since 2020. The Pool Construction Permit Index, created by NAHB using proprietary data from Construction Monitor, can be used to track pool and spa construction projects nationwide.
Top Trends For The 2026 Spring Selling Season
2025 proved to be a challenging year for the housing market. Anticipated Fed rate cuts failed to materialize until the third quarter, and policy uncertainty kept many consumers on the sidelines, even as inventory levels improved. While existing home sales largely tracked 2024 levels, remaining near 30-year lows, new home sales slipped to a three-year low. By year-end, most builders were more than happy to bid adieu to 2025. As we move into the spring selling season each year, we take stock of the key dynamics shaping the industry.
THE FINANCE CORNER
Fed Pauses Interest Rate Cuts In Defiance Of Trump: What It Means For Mortgages And Housing
Federal Reserve policymakers have put further interest rate reductions on hold following three consecutive cuts, defying pressure from President Donald Trump to reduce borrowing costs. Fed Chair Jerome Powell joined the 10-2 majority on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to vote in favor of leaving the federal funds rate unchanged at Wednesday's meeting in Washington, DC. The decision signals the panel's confidence in the economy, with a statement from the FOMC noting that "economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace" while "the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization."
Tax Season Is Here — Don't Fall For These Common Scams
With the IRS now accepting people's tax returns for 2025, a federal watchdog is warning Americans to beware of so-called phishing and smishing scams designed to trick people into unwittingly handing over their personal information. One common scam: robo-emails or texts bearing the subject line "tax refund" that appear to come from the IRS or a state tax office. Recipients are told their tax refund has been "processed" or "approved," but that they must verify their identity by clicking a link and providing personal information, such as a Social Security number and bank account details.
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One Nation Weekly
Good luck to you on your real estate investing journey!
