The Real Estate Show

Radio Show Notes 01/14/26 Wednesday: 

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Midweek Market Report: Mortgage Rates Stabilize: Why Decisive Buyers Win Right Now

By Eric Willner, Investor, Coach, and Host of The Real Estate Show, America’s longest running daily radio show about real estate.

Welcome to The Real Estate Show – South Florida’s #1 Real Estate Radio Show and America’s longest running daily radio show about real estate.
My name is Eric Willner, known as The Voice of Real Estate and founder of America’s longest running daily radio show about real estate—and creator of The Automatic Landlord System for Owning Cash-Flowing Real Estate “Profitably and Hassle-Free.”
This show is a virtual real estate seminar in every episode, and today you are tuned in to the Wednesday Midweek Mortgage & Market Report Edition of The Real Estate Show.

This is where we zoom out, check the pulse of the market, and then zoom back in to answer the most important question of all: What should you do next?
Because as we laid out on Monday—For Fearless Foundations: The Decision Comes First.

Everyone Is IN Real Estate—Whether You Like It or Not

Everyone is in real estate. Period.

You are either IN real estate because you own it. You searched it, negotiated it, closed on it—and now you enjoy the pride of ownership, tax benefits, long-term appreciation, and the leverage that real estate provides.

Or you are ON real estate—paying rent directly, or indirectly, by working for an employer who pays the rent on your workplace. Either way, your money is supporting someone else who is IN real estate.

Here’s the bottom line—and this is critical:

For a homeowner who pays off their mortgage, financial freedom means living on a dramatically reduced budget, making retirement not just possible but probable.
For a renter, financial freedom requires building a much larger nest egg just to generate enough cash flow to keep up with a perpetual, ever-increasing rent payment.

That’s not opinion. That’s math.

The Theme: For Fearless Foundations, the Decision Comes First

This is why today’s show matters.

For Fearless Foundations: The Decision Comes First isn’t a slogan—it’s a strategy.
Real estate rewards clarity, commitment, and long-term thinking. Indecision is expensive. Waiting has a cost. And hesitation quietly compounds against you.

Three Market-Driven “Did You Know?” Questions

Did you know that despite elevated rates, homeownership continues to outperform most other long-term investments because of leverage, tax advantages, and inflation protection?

Did you know that periods of rate stability—not rate crashes—have historically produced the strongest buying opportunities for disciplined buyers?

Did you know that most successful homeowners didn’t buy at the “perfect” time—they bought when they decided to understand how the system works?

Today’s show is about For Fearless Foundations: The Decision Comes First—and why knowing how that works is essential to a real estate plan that actually leads to success.

Before the Meat of the Show—Free Workshops You Need to Know About

Before we go further, let me remind you of this week’s FREE workshops:

1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 8:00 PM – Path to Home Ownership Introduction
Online by invitation.
 Text PATH to 561-861-2366

Do finances challenge you? Most people say YES.

That’s why we created The Financial Edge—the education and knowledge that actually moves the needle. We are your Financial Team.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8:30 PM Eastern by texting EDGE to 561-861-2366.

We believe in a 3-pronged approach:

1. Everyone should buy a home—be a homeowner.
2. Everyone should have that home in financial order, with a written financial and life plan.
3. Everyone should own a business that pays them and provides tax benefits—that’s The Financial Edge.

And every Wednesday at 8:30 PM, we host the Financial Edge Academy “101 Overview”.
 Text EDGE to 561-861-2366.

Today’s Trending Mortgage & Market Update

Here are the top trending topics driving today’s update—sourced from Bankrate and major national outlets:

“Today’s national 30-year mortgage interest rate trends”

As of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.14%.
The average 30-year refinance rate is around 6.50%.

Here’s the key takeaway—another flat week equals stability.

Since rates hit a 2025 low near 6.25% in late October, they’ve moved very little. That’s not bad news—that’s a decision window.

The Policy Shock That Moved Rates—Briefly

Last week, Donald Trump announced on social media that he directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.

Mortgage rates, already near a 15-month low, briefly dipped below 6%.

Why does that matter?

Because Fannie and Freddie back roughly two-thirds of U.S. home loans. When government-sponsored buyers increase demand for mortgage bonds, rates can compress.

As Ken Johnson, a finance professor at the University of Mississippi, put it:

“The goal here is to shrink the spread between the 10-year Treasury yield and the 30-year mortgage rate.”

That spread widened during inflation. Any compression helps borrowers—but experts caution it may not be permanent.

Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target at 2.7%, while unemployment has ticked up to 4.6%. Conflicting signals. Translation? Uncertainty favors preparation—not procrastination.

As Samir Dedhia, CEO of One Real Mortgage, reminds us:

“Mortgage rates don’t follow Fed cuts directly. They respond to broader expectations around inflation, employment, and long-term economic strength.”

What This Means for You—In Real Dollars

For the week of January 11th, top offers on Bankrate were 0.67% lower than the national average.
On a $340,000 loan, that’s roughly $1,736 per year in savings.

Top rate seen: 5.63%
National average: 6.14% (30-year fixed)
15-year: 5.53%
10-year: 5.40%
ARMs? Not popular right now.

When would NOW be a great time to consult your mortgage professional?
 Text LOAN to 561-861-2366.

And tune in tomorrow for the ATM Edition – About The Money, where we’ll explain how some buyers are getting rates in the 4s and investor loans in the 5s.

 MID-SHOW COMMERCIAL BREAK 

Text the word EDGE to 561-861-2366
Education changes outcomes. We’ll be right back.

Prepare Early—Because Opportunity Favors the Ready

Whether you need a mortgage now or in the next year or two, it’s critical to prepare early. Get pre-qualified. Know where you stand.

We also have inside information on:

• Two new mortgage products about to hit the U.S. market
• A down payment assistance program
• A soft credit pull / free pre-check option

That’s why you stay connected to this show.

What We’ve Been Watching the Last Few Weeks

We’ve covered headlines like:

• Refinance demand for FHA loans jumps 24%
• Investors make up the highest share of buyers in five years
• Mortgage demand hits the highest level since September
• Home prices ease, but down payments still challenge buyers

This week, here are the top real estate and homebuying trends people are searching:

• “When will mortgage rates drop?”
• “Is buying still smart in 2026?”
• “Rent vs buy calculator”
• “First-time buyer programs”
• “How to qualify with today’s rates”

Big News Article #1: Refinance Demand Surges

My headline: Mortgage Refinance Demand Explodes as Rates Tease Sub-6%

Key points, in plain English:

• Average 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.18%
• Purchase applications rose 16% week-over-week and 13% year-over-year
• Refinance demand surged 40% for the week and 128% from last year

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, total mortgage application volume jumped 28.5%.

MBA economist Joel Kan said:

“This was a real move based upon the rate drop. Spreads had been moving in even before the announcement.”

Why does this matter to today’s theme?

Because it proves the point: when people sense opportunity, action follows.
Fearless foundations aren’t built when everything is perfect—they’re built when informed buyers decide.

You can check this and more at AutomaticLandlord.com.

Big News Article #2: The Market Is Balancing

 The Housing Market Isn’t Crashing—It’s Normalizing

According to a CNBC housing survey:

• 37.5% of agents now call the market “balanced”
• 92% reported at least one seller price cut
• Fewer buyers are leaving the market or delaying purchases

Agent Ashley Rummage put it best:

“Sentiment has shifted from anxiety to cautious optimism.”

This is huge.

Balanced markets create options. Options create negotiation power. And negotiation power rewards buyers who are prepared.

That’s why this is the moment to own. Not because it’s easy—but because it’s possible.

The Decision Comes First—Always

Let me land this plane.

Markets move. Rates fluctuate. Headlines scream.
But real estate rewards one thing consistently: decisive, educated action.

That’s what For Fearless Foundations: The Decision Comes First means.

Final Call to Action

 Text EDGE to 561-861-2366
Join us tonight. Get educated. Build your financial team.

Thank you for listening—but don’t just listen. Use this show to get started in real estate investing. Tune in every weekday to The Real Estate Show—a literal seminar in every episode.

Join us tomorrow for the ATM Edition – About The Money.
And share this show with someone who should own real estate—but hasn’t decided yet.

This is The Real Estate Show.
I’m Eric Willner.
Make the decision—and build the foundation.